Stumblin' Bumblin' John McCain Lays Odds He'll Suspend His Campaign Again

Maybe he shook hands with Ms. Ya'Bet'cha last week, and hasn't washed since, the ink from her hand causing some level of brain-swelling.

Or maybe, he's just hitting the Stupid Juice again (as he must have done, two-years ago, when he chose The Wasilla Whiz Kid as his running mate).



The Hill has a report today, that Stumblin' Bumblin' John McCain "can draw a scenario" that President Obama is going to fall on his knees, beg the PartyofNoicans for forgiveness, and completely repeal, and rewrite, the Healthcare Reform bill to their liking.

"If the intensity level is as high as it is, I can draw you a scenario where the president would be forced to repeal or really replace it with the provisions [Republicans] wanted," McCain said in an interview with KFYI 550.

At the very least, Republicans could refuse to fund healthcare, the Arizona Republican added.

"You could basically repeal major provisions of it" by refusing to fund them, McCain said.

By the time the Midterms roll around, the only one's carping about the Healthcare Reform Bill will be the PartyofNoicans, and their army of Teabagger puppets.

And, besides, McCain will break his own pledge, of doing nothing for the rest of the year.

I don't know, if he starts dropping in the polls, I smell a "crises" brewing, and that means McCain may have to suspend his campaign, again.


Bonus Stumblin' Bumblin' McCain Riffs

The Bob Dole For The New Millennium

"The insinuation, that John McCain, a former prisoner of war, doesn't know how many houses he has, is outrageous!"

Everything He Learned?

He Was Irrelevant, Even When He Was Running

Man, Chris Cillizza, at WaPo, must have had a big, heaping, SuperSizeMe cup of the Beltway Kool Aid today, to describe Stumblin' Bumblin' John McCain being on Clinton's Mini-Me show this Sunday as "Must Watch TV"

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) spends the hour (or most of it) with George Stephanopoulos on "This Week" on Sunday. McCain has laid low over the last few months as the debate over health care has raged. He's made clear he would like to play a bigger part in the negotiations but, to date, has been on the outside looking in. How hard a line against the plan does McCain take? Does he leave any wiggle room in hopes of emerging as the broker of a grand compromise?

Quick, somebody check, are they suspending the Healthcare Debate, so Stumblin' Fly Boy can rush to the nearest television studio?

Jesus, I know it's late August, Congress is on siesta, and the Redskins are only in preseason, but, c'mon there Chris, "Must Watch TV"?

McCain wasn't "Must Watch" anything, even when he was running for President.

He may be the first nominee to become completely irrelevant, once they made the Vice President selection.

It was the Mommy Moose Show, from the convention to the election, interrupted, only briefly, by the driver of the Dead Campaign Express clinging to a blowhard, non-plumber plumber, who then catapulted into the limelight himself, further pushing the debunked Maverick to the back of the bus.

Steve Benen reminds Chris Cillizza, "REMEMBER, HE LOST...";

McCain is, in other words, just another conservative Republican senator, with no real influence, and nothing new to say, who just happens to be invited onto national television all the time, including another lengthy chat on "This Week" in a few days. (What might he say? I'm going to go out on a limb and guess he'll spend most of the time bashing the president.)

That's likely to be a short limb, on a low branch, there Steve.

Let's see ... Socialism ... Birth Certificate ... Wasteful spending ... Earmarks ...

If he's on for most of the hour, we'll surely see a wide spectrum of the PartyofNoican lying points.

And, check out John Cole, over on Balloon Juice, who adds in, with details, that McCain is still just a miserably old prick.

Yeah, Must Not Watch TV is more like it ...

Top Ten Cloves: Things About The Meeting Today, Between President Elect Obama and John McCain

News Item: McCain: I'll "Obviously" Help Obama With His Administration

10. Surprise for Obama - McCain delivered cookies, baked by Cindy - from her own family recipe!

9. McCain's office sent out Press Release, that the Senator was "suspending" his schedule for the day, to meet with Obama

8. Rules for the meeting? ... McCain limited to only three "My Friends" during conversation

7. McCain conveyed that The Wasilla Whiz Kid was sending Obama some "Good Luck" winks

6. Obama pressed McCain, hard, for how much he'd let the old Dead Campaign Express bus go for ...

5. What's the real scoop? ... McCain whined for over 2-hours, about those 10 Town Hall Meetings, still pressing the issue

4. McCain badgered Obama over a Cabinet post, White House job, anything, for Joe The Plumber

3. Obama said he almost didn't recognize McCain, not having Joe Lieberman with him, to stand off his shoulder

2. Instead of greeting each other with handshake, it was the "terrorist fist jab"

1. McCain admitted he is relieved that he didn't win, and could stay "Divorced from day-to-day challenges people have"


Bonus Obama Riffs

SNL - We Had To Endure Hillary, But Then Came The Obama Files

You Say Lapel Pins ... I Say Lunatics...

Top Ten Cloves: Ways Obama Campaign Can Re-Introduce Michelle Obama

Breaking! Obama VP Call Delayed - Piece of Paper With Name Lost

The "B" List

Top Ten Cloves: Possible Surprising Things Barack Obama Will Do With His Paid Infomercial This Evening

John Cleese on Olbermann

If you happened to be watching 'Countdown' last evening, you were rewarded with a little treat.

John Cleese, live, in-studio.

For the final segment, Olbermann had the Monty Python veteran in for a chat on Joe The Dumber, and a new poem (Cleese, last month, wrote a poem, slamming Sean Hannity, that Olbermann read on the program), bashing Olbermann's obsessive target, Bill O'Reilly.

The best of it was Cleese riffing on "If Karl Rove worked for the Democrats" ... It's hysterical!

Check it out here;

Countdown: John Cleese on Joe the Prop Oct. 31, 2008




Extra Bonus!

It appears, if it survives the writing and run-through process, a parody of Olbermann on Saturday Night Live this evening.

Save This Snapshot!

Koo-koo-ka-choo, John, the Maverick Man
Palin loves you more than you will know
God bless you, please, John, the Maverick Man.
Heaven holds a place for those who bomb away,
Hey, hey, hey

Where have you gone, Joe the faux Plumber,
Our Campaign turns it's lonely eyes to you.
What's that you say, John, the Maverick Man.
Revoltin' Joe has left and gone away,
Yea, Yea, Yea,
Yea, Yea, Yea!

Yes, save this, mark this down, for it encompasses, almost, the perfect snapshot, the finger-on-the-button, a dead-ringer in horseshoes, the milieu, imprint, definition of the Stumblin' Bumblin' John McKKKain campaign.

Joe The Plumber Stands Up John McCain?



Now, either the staff told the Stumblin' Bumblin' Fly Boy that Joe "Living-Way-Outside-His-YouTube-Moment" the Plumber wasn't in attendance, and he "forgot", or, the Rove Rats never bothered to make sure the fawned-over Flying Monkey was front-and-center, to be foisted on the bused-in audience of school children (this is the second time he's abused students, forcing them to sit through one of his campaign events, perhaps, in a vein attempt to sprinkle and plant new "My Friends" seeds; Or, in the case today, to avoid the embarrassment of not having a quorum of an audience) .

Actually, it may be a combination of both.

McCain forgets that Joe the Plumber isn’t at his rally: ‘Where is Joe?’

Update - McCain staffers tell ABC News that it was "a simple mix up" and Joe "will join the campaign at a Thursday evening event."

Update - Dana Bash updates:

McCain aides called it a “miscommunication,” but once I got on the bus I called Wurzelbacher myself and asked him what really happened. He told me that he had hoped to come to the morning rally, but that no one from McCain’s campaign ever called him back to confirm, Bigger ooops.

Well, that kind of diamond-drilling precision sure ought'a rope in more votes.

No doubt you've seen or heard all the news on this bald buffoon, from his "mulling over" running for Congress, to the latest wet dream of a recording contract (Apparently, Nashville has plans to start stamping out new Lee Greenwoods, rivaling the schedule of Chinese toy factories), to his foot-in-mouth policy discussion the other day, that even the Faux News guys couldn't swallow.

I'm beginning to believe that the only reason the debunked Maverick clings to this ignorant clump of ridiculousness, is to bookend him with his sterling VP choice, Mommy Moose.

Peas-in-a-pod, as it were ...

Boy, if they really wanted to make heads explode, sit The Wasilla Whiz Kid, and Joe the Dumber, down, together, for a Katie Couric interview.

They'd be scrapping up brain matter, from "sea, to shining sea".

And There Was Also This

It might serve the voting public better, if Stumblin' Bumblin' Johnnie just finished off the campaign wearing clown shoes.

Remember a short time ago, when the Dead Campaign Express was regaling themselves with calling Obama a "celebrity", complete with the "Paris Hilton" video.

I mean, they just couldn't get enough of that, entertaining themselves, so smug that they were pinning something on Obama that would surely sink his campaign.

It was all kittens-with-a-ball-of-string, those heady, "celebrity" days.

Well, later in the day, Joe the Dumber did show up.

Joe the Plumber shows at McCain rally

"By the way…shouldn’t we hear from our celebrity Joe, just a second, Joe Wurzelbacher?”

"All right guys, I didn't prepare anything," Wurzelbacher said. "The only thing I've been saying is just get out and get informed. I mean really know what you're talking about when you're talking about it. Don't take everyone's opinions. I came to my own opinions by research. Get involved in the government. That way we can hold our politicians accountable and take back our government.”

"Our celebrity Joe"

Someone needs to check, were these people the model, the inspiration, for the film "Idiocracy"?

Must be the "electrolytes".


Bonus "Smokin' Joe" Riffs

Kyle E. Moore: IT’S ALIIIIIVE!!!!!!

Matthew DeLong: Where Have You Gone, Joe the Plumber?

Wonkette: Joe The Whore Shows Up At McCain Rally, Finally

TChris: Drains Unclogged, Peace Treaties Negotiated: Joe Does It All

Nicole Belle: Pushing To Extend Those Fifteen Minutes Of Fame

John Cole: Fifteen Minutes and Counting…

Good Post Alert: The Three Ashleys

I found a great post last evening, that tells a great deal about this year's election.

Sean Quinn, over on FiveThirtyEight.com put up The Three Ashleys.

Typically, I would quote a passage, or two, for the piece, however, I think it will read better if you just jump on over there and check it out.

Particularly, the second and third "Ashley" referenced, can, succinctly, stand in for the elevator pitch, or Reader's Digest version, for a quick snapshot on the differences between Barack Obama and Stumblin' Bumblin' John McKKKain

Go read "The Three Ashleys"

That One!

Well, we have another debate this evening, the last of this long presidential primary and campaign season (I believe it is around 41 debates, total, that we have had to endure).

Being that Stumblin' Bumblin' John McKKKain is in this one, speaking publically, we remind you to clean, oil and test out your "My Friends" counter.

He's down, and free-falling in the polls, so it could be a blizzard of "My Friends" tonight.

Also, there will be held breath and anxious nerves, awaiting to see, as the minutes click off, if the debunked Maverick
employs "That One" again.

It still has gone unexplained by the Dead Campaign Express what caused The Donut Man to refer to Barack Obama as "That One".

Had he, earlier in the day, perhaps attempting to take a nap, have the television on and "That Girl" came on?

Maybe the movie "That Touch of Mink", or "That Darned Cat".

Or, he was thinking about the old, Brasilian lover, "That Naughty Girl", remembering the steamy times and complimenting her on "That Thing You Do".

There is the chance that he was just trying to bring back "That Old Feeling".

Or, he wanted to be hip, a bit of a smart-ass, and meant to say "That Darn Punk".

If he wants to keep the vibe of his campaign for the last week, or so, he can tag Obama with things like "That Awful Brother", "That City Feller", "That Soul Thing", and really toss one out to the base, with "That Minstrel Man".

He can follow-up on Jeffrey M Frederick, the Virginia GOP chief, and ask Obama "That Burning Question" about "That Mysterious Fez".

Perhaps he'll throw a shot out at Obama's campaign staff with a "That Gang of Hoodlums".

But, most likely, the debate will end with "That Sinking Feeling" and McKKKain, Mommy Moose and the Dead Campaign Express won't escape the label of just continuing ""That Yin Yang Thing".

In that case, we can expect some new stunt, and you can employ the nifty chart Nate Silver made up for just THAT happening.

Top Ten Cloves: Things About If John McCain and Sarah Palin Discovered America

News Item: Columbus Day Holiday

10. Selection of unknown, and inexperienced, First Mate Sarah Palin would have rippled through Spain

9. Name of Ships - Straight Ship Express, Country First and Maverick (And, he had, at least four other ships)

8. McCain would have been criticized by other navigators and explorers as too old to be making expedition

7. First bit of a little rough seas, McCain would "suspend" the voyage (but not really)

6. McCain's special advisor for voyage, Phil Gramm, causes a stir, calling ship's crew a bunch of whiners

5. Weeks lost at sea due to following coordinates for legendary "The Bridge To Nowhere"

4. Cindy McCain (her family money funded McCain's voyages) irritating ship's cook, stealing his recipes and claiming them as her own

3. Hanoi Hilton didn't exist yet, so, no POW-POW-POW stories for McCain

2. Palin, and husband Todd, cause controversy the entire voyage, incessantly trying to get ship's Master-at-Arms fired

1. Native Americans would be known as today, Native MyFriends

Well, At Least They Didn't Use His Middle Name Today

Well, that didn't last long.

After an evening of "OMG! McCain Sees The Light", that, either via polling showing it wasn't working, or getting his donuts crushed by angry Republicans running for office and getting dragged down with Fly Boy and Mommy Moose, the Dead Campaign Express, apparently, are not going to continue "defending" Barack Obama.

The awkward position they are in, having ripped down the curtain on the underside of the Republican Party, while if may be personally distasteful to Stumblin' Bumblin' Johnnie (unlike the Wasilla Whiz Kid, who thrives on it), they still have to throw a piece of red meat out to the drooling throngs.

As in the case this morning, out in Iowa;

Election 2008: God's Reputation Is at Stake

“There are millions of people around this world praying to their god — whether it’s Hindu, Buddha, Allah — that his [McCain’s] opponent wins, for a variety of reasons,” said Arnold Conrad, former pastor of Grave Evangelical Free Church. “And Lord, I pray that you would guard your own reputation because they’re going to think that their god is bigger than you if that happens. So I pray that you will step forward and honor your own name in all that happens between now and Election Day.”

(You can read an entertaining account of the entire rally with "John McCain: Davenport Liveblog")


But Wait, There's More!

Seems that one of the trio that Fly Boy would go to for advice didn't wait to be asked (nor would he be put in a Cone of Silence).

John Lewis, invoking George Wallace, says McCain and Palin 'playing with fire'

"What I am seeing reminds me too much of another destructive period in American history," Lewis said in a statement issued today for Politico's Arena forum. "Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin are sowing the seeds of hatred and division, and there is no need for this hostility in our political discourse."

Lewis didn't accuse McCain of imitating Wallace, but suggested there were similarities.

"George Wallace never threw a bomb," Lewis noted. "He never fired a gun, but he created the climate and the conditions that encouraged vicious attacks against innocent Americans who were simply trying to exercise their constitutional rights. Because of this atmosphere of hate, four little girls were killed on Sunday morning when a church was bombed in Birmingham, Alabama."

And, of course, Stumblin' Bumblin Johnnie doesn't quite get it.

McCain responded with disappointment, but also a challenge to Obama.

"I am saddened that John Lewis, a man I've always admired, would make such a brazen and baseless attack on my character and the character of the thousands of hardworking Americans who come to our events to cheer for the kind of reform that will put America on the right track," the GOP nominee said in a statement this afternoon.

He added: "I call on Senator Obama to immediately and personally repudiate these outrageous and divisive comments that are so clearly designed to shut down debate 24 days before the election. Our country must return to the important debate about the path forward for America.”

See, Fly Boy and Mommy Moose spend that last week, or so, whipping up their rally crowds with "Who is Obama" and that "He pals around with terrorists" and it is now incumbent on Obama to apologize.

Which, of course, he did not, showing he has his hands steady on the tiller;

“Senator Obama does not believe that John McCain or his policy criticism is in any way comparable to George Wallace or his segregationist policies. But John Lewis was right to condemn some of the hateful rhetoric that John McCain himself personally rebuked just last night, as well as the baseless and profoundly irresponsible charges from his own running mate that the Democratic nominee for President of the United States ‘pals around with terrorists.’ As Barack Obama has said himself, the last thing we need from either party is the kind of angry, divisive rhetoric that tears us apart at a time of crisis when we desperately need to come together. That is the kind of campaign Senator Obama will continue to run in the weeks ahead,” said Obama-Biden spokesman Bill Burton.

Mark Kleiman sums it up, nicely;

McCain's attempt to change the subject from the hate-rallies he and his sidekick have been running to the accuracy of comments made by someone McCain regards as a sage isn't going to work. If McCain has a problem with Lewis, maybe he ought to talk to Lewis himself. McCain could use a little wise advice right about now.

And, This Happened Today

Man At Palin Rally Displays Monkey Doll Donning Obama Sticker

After Palin finished her remarks this morning, the man holding the stuffed monkey seemed to notice that a video camera was pointed at him, at which point he removed the Obama sticker from the doll’s head and crumpling it up in his hand. He then handed the doll to a young boy who was watching the rally from his father’s shoulders. The boy’s parents later told CBS News that they weren’t acquainted with the man who gave their son the stuffed monkey.

And, Finally, The Big Question

Which would be, did Nicolle Wallace and Brian Rogers, designated liars for the Dead Campaign Express, have their heads up their own asses, or each others?

McCain camp defends the behavior?

Earlier today, Obama remarked on recent outbursts of "Traitor!" "Terrorist!" and "Kill him!" at McCain campaign events. "It's easy to rile up a crowd," Obama said. "Nothing's easier than riling up a crowd by stoking anger and division. But that's not what we need right now in the United States."

In response, McCain senior adviser Nicolle Wallace released this statement, NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports. "Barack Obama's assault on our supporters is insulting and unsurprising. These are the same people obama called 'bitter' and attacked for 'clinging to guns' and faith. He fails to understand that people are angry at corrupt practices in Washington and Wall Street and he fails to understand that America's working families are not 'clinging' to anything other than the sincere hope that Washington will be reformed from top to bottom."

"Attacking our supporters is a new low for the campaign that's run more millions of dollars of negative ads than any other in history."

Defending the crowds

McCain spokesman Brian Rogers pushes back against the storyline of rabid McCain crowds and Obama's criticism:

Barack Obama’s attacks on Americans who support John McCain reveal far more about him than they do about John McCain. It is clear that Barack Obama just doesn’t understand regular people and the issues they care about. He dismisses hardworking middle class Americans as clinging to guns and religion, while at the same time attacking average Americans at McCain rallies who are angry at Washington, Wall Street and the status quo.

Even worse, he attacks anyone who dares to question his readiness to serve as their commander in chief in chief. Raising legitimate questions about record, character and judgment are a vital part of the Democratic process, and Barack Obama’s effort to silence and shame those who seek answers should make everyone wonder exactly what he is hiding.

Stupid me.

I always thought you had to do some heavy-duty narcotics to enter into an alternate reality like this ...


Bonus Hell-In-A-Handbasket Riffs

Warren Street: Too little, too goddamned late

Eric Schmeltzer: A New Low: McCain Camp Condones Violent Threats Against Obama

Kyle E. Moore: Just When You Thought He Couldn’t Go Lower

Eli: Who’s Driving The Hate Talk Express?

Nate Silver: Did McCain Just Walk Into a Trap?

Debate Results ... The Flintstones vs. The Jetsons Part II

Just a quick riff while the iron is hot.

Well, the worry at the VP Debate was the Wasilla Whiz Kid getting off the stage alive - figuratively

Tonight, there were clenched teeth, and fingernails dug into armchairs, just watching Stumblin' Bumblin' John McCain walk around the stage and getting off it alive - literally.

I gotta think the odds boards in Vegas saw frantic action and heavy betting, on whether or not McCain would still be standing - and breathing - at the end.

And he wanted 10 of these things?

Jesus, by the third, he'd have a four-post walker, and, I'd say, by the fifth or sixth, it would be something from The Scooter Store.

And, this was a townhall, allegedly McCain's strength, his groove, his touchstone?

He wandered around the stage, like the befuddled Uncle that comes for Holiday dinner, that nobody really wants there, and spends most of the day not giving him much attention, yet he keeps injecting himself into the conversation, bad jokes and all.

For the record, the Dead Campaign Express Commander chucked up (by our count);

• 19 "My Friends"
• 2 "With a steady hand at the tiller
• 1 That shout-out to the DC Comic base, The League of Democracies

And, while Obama offered up Warren Buffet as a potential Treasury Secretary in his administration, Fly Boy suggested one of his advisors, Meg Whitman, founder of eBay, who announced today they will be laying off 1,000+ persons.

You want news?

Mommy Moose's mentor offered up a startling new policy agenda item.

He wants to do his version of Phil Rizutto and "The Money Store", saying he, as President, will buy up all the bad mortgages, and renegotiate the mortgages.

Say What?

This isn't, or wouldn't be, part of the already concluded $700 Billion heist by Hank Paulson and the Bush Grindhouse

This new "The McCain Money Store" would be on top of it.

Yet, he smears Obama, blaming him for Fannie and Freddy, and continues his Old-Man-Shaking-Fist-at-Clouds shrieking about Earmarks.

And there was the harsh, heavy-handed, dripping with contempt "THAT ONE", pointing (but not looking at) Obama, telling an Obama vote on a bill, loaded with ... You guessed it - EARMARKS!

It probably (but not definitively) had less to do with something racial and a lot more to do with that befuddled Uncle referenced above becoming very animated for a fleeting moment.

Early post-debate chatter has been that the snap and dial polls show Obama winning, by sizable margins.

The Talking Heads are all but saying he was the befuddled Uncle out there tonight, and questioning the strategy, after four-days of the Dead Campaign Express calling Obama a terrorist and a liar about supporting and befriending terrorists, Stumblin' Bumblin' Johnnie never raised it or attacked Obama on character.

The loud, collective sigh you may have heard at the end of the debate was the Rove Rats, resigning themselves, they're going to have to go and purchase a whole lot more kitchen sinks to toss at Obama.

And they'll be cutting Fly Boy loose, putting Mommy Moose's signature and logo on them.

More tomorrow, after the transcripts come out

Top Ten Cloves: Most Surprising Things John McCain Can Do At The Debate This Evening

News Item: Tonight's Debate and McCain's Catch-22

10. Comes out in drag, dressed and looking like Sarah Palin

9. Breaks down sobbing, begging Barack Obama for a job in his administration

8. Has Joe Lieberman on-stage with him, to whisper correct answers to him

7. Quick costume change, to top hat and tails, and then a tap/soft-shoe routine to the tune Is That All There Is?

6. Bad sign for Obama - Just before debate starts, Tom Brokaw is seen giving McCain a box of donuts

5. The Game Changer - Raffles off one of his houses to a lucky audience member

4. To make sure he doesn't look at Obama again, comes out wearing horse blinkers

3. Brings wife Cindy out, who has baked cookies, from a secret family recipe, for the entire audience

2. Shows up late for the debate - Got caught in a hot game of Craps in one of the Frat houses

1. Instead of a sharp-looking suit, McCain wears his old POW uniform


Bonus Stumblin' Bumblin' Johnnie Riffs

Dan Balz: A Debate About McCain

Time Magazine: Aides Wary of “Grumpy McCain”

David Kurtz: Warning: Excessive Tire Swinging May Cause Dizziness

He's Still Harping About The 10 Town Halls!

McCain VP Confusion; Staff Had Canadian Actress Sarah Polley In Dayton Hotel For Three Days

The Bob Dole For The New Millennium

Court Jesters

"The Palin was with Couric in the campaign that's she's draggin, while the vessel with the Maverick doesn't have a clue that they're through"

Oh Boy!

Bad Day at Black Rock, times about 100,000!

First, there was Stumblin' Bumblin John McCain, sitting down with the editorial board of the Des Moines Register, which raised questions of that alone, of what he was doing in Iowa, when Barack Obama has about a 10+ point lead.

During the interview (you can watch it here), Fly Boy threw out some gems;

That he has a desire to be a dictator

"MCCAIN: I just want to make a comment about the obvious issue and that is the failure of Congress to act yesterday. Its just not acceptable. […] This is just a not acceptable situation. I’m not saying this is the perfect answer. If I were dictator, which I always aspire to be, I would write it a little bit differently."

Testily, defended Mommy Moose

"So, with due respect, I strongly disagree with your premise that she doesn't have experience and knowledge and background." McCain added that Palin has "been a member of the PTA, been a governor, been a mayor." Then, seeming to realize that he'd lost his cool somewhat, McCain said, "I'll stop there." He went on anyway, however, concluding, "But you and I just have a fundamental disagreement and I'm so happy that the American people seem to be siding with me."

Then, Stumblin' Bumblin' Johnny jumps on over to NPR (go here to listen, or read the transcript);

He goes way overboard on defending Mommy Moose;

NPR: Given what you've said Senator, is there an occasion where you could imagine turning to Governor Palin for advice in a foreign policy crisis.

MCCAIN: I've turned to her advice many times in the past, I can't imagine turning to Senator Obama or Senator Biden cuz they've been wrong, they were wrong about Iraq, wrong about Russia...

NPR: But would you turn to Governor Palin?

MCCAIN: I certainly wouldn't turn to them, and I've already turned to Governor Palin particularly on energy issues and I've appreciated her background and knowledge on that and many other issues.

NPR: Does her energy qualification extend to the international energy market?

MCCAIN: Of course. Of course. That's what it's all about. It extends to a broad variety of issues from her worldview to threats that we face, to radical Islamic extremism, to specific areas of the world. I'm very proud of her, and proud of the knowledge and background that she has.

Yeah, you read it right ... "I've turned to her advice many times in the past"

He's only known her for about three-minutes, so it would be real nice for some reporter to follow-up on just when in the past, how long ago did he turn to the Wasilla Whiz for council, and just what was that council.

It, surely, couldn't be anything to do the with Supreme Court.

Go well far past, really tremendously far above her choosing "I'll Try To Find You Some, and Bring'em To Ya ...", the Governor of Alaska went back for another dip in the Katie Couric pool.

Actually, it was a Couric report in which she asked both Vice Presidential candidates the same set of questions (watch it here).

Biden, of course, aced his.

Palin?

Well, you watch it and then see if you come up with the same, or similar words.

Sarah Palin can't name one Supreme Court case



She couldn't, or didn't (for what reason, only God knows), name a single Supreme Court decision.

How's about, considering where we are today, Gore v. Bush?

Or, as Keith Olbermann pointed out, something in her own backyard, and in which she spoke out against, Exxon v. Baker, which reduced the damage award to Alaska fisherman from the Exxon Valdez disaster.

Embarrassing!

Utterly, and truly, embarrassing.

The Stumblin' Bumblin' John McCain Campaign has become, fully and completely, a joke.

On one level, they are getting all they deserve, for the cynical political ploy of choosing Mommy Moose, and then not vetting her.

Just from the get-go, what does it say about Stumblin' Bumblin' Johnny's integrity and judgment to chose a running mate that is already mired in an Ethics Scandal?

Hilzoy sums it up, rather succinctly;

At the end of the day, though, the story isn't Palin's ignorance, or the fact that she is manifestly not prepared to be President. It's McCain's shocking recklessness in nominating her in the first place.

No one who put country first would have done that.

Stumblin Bumblin' Johnny is going to need a weeks' worth of POW-POW-POW excuses.

Or, maybe, it's time for the RNC to think about making this an epic, truly, supremely, historic election - They shut down the McCain operation, out of the decency of not insulting the country (and world) any longer with the charade of having a legitimate candidate, leaving Obama to run, virtually unopposed.

Too bad he passed on.

Considering the hijinx of Sarah Palin, Danny Kaye could have, just as easily, filled the role

The Court Jester - The Pellet With The Poison




Bonus Stumblin' Bumblin', and Just Plain Falling Down Riffs

Jon Perr: McCain Echoes Bush on the Joys of Dictatorship

Editor and Publisher: McCain vs. 'Des Moines Register'

Steve Benen: MCCAIN'S FOREIGN POLICY ADVISOR...

David Corn: On NPR, McCain Exaggerates Past Relationship with Palin

Top Ten Cloves: Ways John McCain Isn't Like Herbert Hoover

McCain Admits He's "Divorced from day-to-day challenges people have"

McCain in Pottersville - All's, Hee-Haw, Hunky-dory

It's A Wonderful Life bank run



(Watch the full-version of the scene here)

If Stumblin' Bumblin John McCain lived in Bedford Falls, perhaps the town's Mayor (or, we can even keep him a Senator), no doubt he would be extolling the virtues of Pottersville, saying that things there were 'fundamentally sound" and that Mr. Potter "and his innovation and his entrepreneurship, his businesses, those are the fundamentals of America and I think they’re strong.”

He'd be doing this, having tossed away is first wife, and now toting around his second, Violet Bick.

His policies would have benefited Sam Wainwright, to move his business overseas.

His aide-de-camp, Sarah Palin, would have shuttered the library, banning virtually all of the books, leaving poor Mary Hatch unemployed.

Ernie and Bert would have been stop-lossed, and now overseas fighting in a 100-year war.

And, as he would be dead wrong standing in the middle of Bedford Falls' Main Street, he's as dead wrong today, standing on the main political stage, painting himself as the savior of the American way of life.

This morning, as Wall Street melted, like a Hershey bar lying on a dashboard in July (or, one of those American workers McCain once mockingly challenged to work in the hot Yuma summer sun - H/T The Jed Report), Stumblin' Bumblin' Johnny stuck to his stump script and pronounced, that despite the troubles of the day, our economy was fundamentally sound.

By noontime, he was being, rightfully so, derided as woefully out-of-touch, and his talking heads were rushed onto the cable news sets to start spinning "what he actually said", which caused severe technical problems with the broadcasts, having the sets spinning so ferociously.

Then by late today, Stumblin' Bumblin' Johnny was doing the spinning himself, offering “The American worker and their innovation and their entrepreneurship, the small business, those are the fundamentals of America and I think they’re strong.”

Nice, jingoistic compliment, but it doesn't address the reality, or have anything to do with what's going down with the economy.

Kind of an Economic POW-POW-POW story.

However, it's almost like gushing, glowingly, over the bin of bright, shiny colorful oranges, when the issue is the bin of rotten apples right next to them.

One has nothing to do with the other.

Paul Krugman, today;

The new system was supposed to do a better job of spreading and reducing risk. But in the aftermath of the housing bust and the resulting mortgage crisis, it seems apparent that risk wasn’t so much reduced as hidden: all too many investors had no idea how exposed they were.

And here’s the thing: The defenses set up to prevent a return of those bank runs, mainly deposit insurance and access to credit lines with the Federal Reserve, only protect the guys in the marble buildings, who aren’t at the heart of the current crisis. That creates the real possibility that 2008 could be 1931 revisited.

But Henry Paulson, the Treasury secretary, was adamant that he wouldn’t sweeten the deal by putting more public funds on the line. Many people thought he was bluffing. I was all ready to start today’s column, “When life hands you Lehman, make Lehman aid.” But there was no aid, and apparently no deal. Mr. Paulson seems to be betting that the financial system — bolstered, it must be said, by those special credit lines — can handle the shock of a Lehman failure. We’ll find out soon whether he was brave or foolish.

Hmmm ... Sounds like there was no oversight, or regulatory process in place.

Whether it be Krugman, or any other analyst today, I didn't see any vibes, any allusions, any blame been plastered on the worker bees of Lehman Bros., Merrill Lynch, or that other teetering elephant in-the-room, AIG.

McCain is desperately, to the point of looking utterly foolish, of trying to rip off his Republican suit, as if he (and, specifically, his prime financial advisor, Phil Gramm, he of "Mental Recessions" and "Whining"), had nothing to do with the melting economy.

What's going down now is the direct result of the Republican administration, and rubber-stamp Congress for six-of-the-past-seven-years.

Let the free markets be free, and not burdened with the government looking over their shoulders and everything will take care of itself.

Policies that will continue in a McCain-Palin administration.

Hee-Haw!

Bonus McCain's Economy's Strong Riffs

BusinessWeek: Wall Street's Perfect Storm - Investors deal with a Lehman bankruptcy, the sale of Merrill Lynch to BofA, and a possible AIG restructuring

Joe Klein: Their Brand is Collapse

No More Mister Nice Blog: CHANGE? McCAIN CAN'T EVEN CHANGE HIS CATCHPHRASE

Space Cowboy: McCain: Economics Supergenius in Training

Chris In Paris: The Sunday night Wall Street tsunami, Part I: What happened?

Hilzoy: Donald Luskin Reclaims His Title

Pam Spaulding: Greenspan's "once-in-a century" financial crisis counters McCain's economic hallucinations

NYT Dealbook: Counting the Cash for Lehman’s Chief

Top Ten Cloves: Other Things John McCain Thinks Are "Fundamentally Sound"

News Item: As Wall Street collapses, McCain declares that ‘the fundamentals of our economy are strong.’

10. The Sturgis Beauty Contest

9. Czechoslovakia

8. Backing up the Georgians, against the Russian invasion

7. The Palin Truth Squad

6. Joe Lieberman

5. The Iraq-Pakistan border

4. All the lies he, and his campaign, are putting out

3. The vetting of Sarah Palin

2. His $300-Million challenge for a new Hybrid or Electric Car Battery

1. Cindy's Recipes


Bonus Stumblin' Bumblin' McCain Riffs

Things Younger Than McCain

Jukebox John keeps changing his tune

Count the Lies

Well, I Guess It Rules Out On-Line Gambling Too ...

We Told You He Was Just Like Bob Dole

Top Ten Cloves: Things About Vetting Sarah Palin In One Day

News Item:  Aides Say Team Interviewed Palin Late in the Process

10.  Numerous interruptions, with AP reporter Liz Sidoti delivering boxes of donuts to McCain

  9.  McCain insists hearing Palin say, to his satisfaction, "We are all Georgians", over-and-over

  8.  Stench of the moose hanging around grosses out everyone

  7.  Since it would be a dealbreaker, Palin advised in vetting that she's never been involved in an Exorcism

  6.  McCain, being the "bad boy" annoys Steve Schmidt, shooting spitballs onto his bald head

  5.  Lost time, as McCain constantly interrupting vetting to to tell POW stories

  4.  Staff impressed Palin wasn't confused about about the Iraq-Pakistan Border

  3.  During the vetting, Meghan McCain knocks off another children's book, on Sarah Palin

  2.  Phil Gramm crashes the vetting, badgering Palin, asking if she's a whiner

  1.  Hours wasted, with staff standing around, watching as McCain attempts to the computer

Bonus McCain Palin Riffs

EmptyWheel:  Notice What’s Missing from this Thorough List of Vetting Discovery?

Laura McGann:  The Reform Candidate?

McCain VP Confusion; Staff Had Canadian Actress Sarah Polley In Dayton Hotel For Three Days

The 1,001 Points of Light

Mas Que Nada ... McCain Goes Pow Pow Pow - Again!  Or: Donate To John McCain, and Be Included In The Telling of His Next POW-POW-POW Story