comment #1

Walter Sobchak says ...

Ageism!

comment #2

Joe Leydon says ...

Look, Walt, I'm sorry, but these things will only happen more frequently as the campaign continues. McCain isn't nearly as vigorous as Ronald Reagan. I can't say I'm entirely happy with the idea that, when Obama is elected, I will be, for the first time in my life, OLDER than the president of the US. But I'd feel a lot more secure in knowing that the country is being led by someone not given to senior moments.

comment #3

T. S. Idiot says ...

Walter, you can't be accusing Wells of ageism. Did you see the O'Reilly video?

comment #4

Mgmax says ...

So why is McCain the one trying to get Obama to agree to debates again?

comment #5

SpinDozer says ...

'So why is McCain the one trying to get Obama to agree to debates again?'

Cos he's behind?

dedlink, btw

comment #6

JHRussell says ...

Nothing comes close to Obama's statement concerning the "57 US states"...

Obama does not do well in debates, dude...and McCain is awesome in the town hall settings, too...Obama is best with a set speech and a teleprompter...

comment #7

FunkDaddy J says ...

"Nothing comes close to Obama's statement concerning the "57 US states"..."

That was obviously a joke, dude.

comment #8

nola says ...

It's not ageism. McCain's mom is 96 and is more on the ball.

comment #9

frankbooth says ...

They left out the clips of him talking into the wrong end of his mic, and turning to shake his wife's hand onstage as if he doesn't recognize her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOFY_LSFq28

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wD0Gf9w5DA&feature=related

Happens to everybody, but like you said, it all adds up.

On the other hand, coming across as a blithering idiot who can barely speak English never hurt Bush.

comment #10

Mjs says ...

Wow, I just feel bad for him. I dont' care what political affiliation you belong to, that man can not be president. We can't go from an illiterate president to one that can't remember his own name, or seemingly gets confused on nearly every issue.

comment #11

Rev. Slappy says ...

Senior moments aside, does it bother anybody besides me that McCain seems pretty proud that he can't work a computer? How can he lead the country into a 21st century global economy and not be able to read his own email?

comment #12

EB says ...

You have the give McCain an A for effort. But its time for him to face facts. This country doesn't want an old man who is out of touch with society and with the voters. Its not the fact the man cant operate the internet or a computer. But he's a Republican and this country is already reeling from Bush. Obama might not be a war hero or had years of government experience. But he's more in touch with the voters and the needs of the country and is young enough to give people satisfaction in that. Who wants to vote in an old man, a guy battling cancer, and oh yeah I almost forgot. A Republican! Obama doesn't want to do any debates with McCain as McCain will just lose track of the issues.

comment #13

JHRussell says ...

"That was obviously a joke, dude."

Dude, a joke?

Here is the transcript of what Obama said:

"It is wonderful to be back in Oregon," Obama said. "Over the last 15 months, we’ve traveled to every corner of the United States. I’ve now been in 57 states? I think one left to go. Alaska and Hawaii, I was not allowed to go to even though I really wanted to visit, but my staff would not justify it."

He later acknowledged his innumeracy gaffe when a reporter pointed it out to him...

Yeah, man, that was a real knee slapper, dude...

People who have a camera in their face 24/7 will make gaffes...don't dismiss Obama's as intentional jokes if you are going to cite McCain's as evidence of something medically sinister...

comment #14

iamwhoiam says ...

I can't believe that this guy is even in the race, and may very well win. I'm not an American and i'm stunned by the fact that US citizens actually considering electing someone who looks as dumb as the president who destroyed their country over the past 8 years. I refuse to believe that they can be so stupid (or should i say, "so racist").

comment #15

JHRussell says ...

"I'm not an American.."

Well, then STFU on our politics.

Nice touch calling Americans stupid and racist, BTW. What wonderful country claims you?

comment #16

FunkDaddy J says ...

"Here is the transcript of what Obama said."

I'm not saying Obama is going to make gaffes now and then, but I am saying that as I'm watching the video, it is completely obvious to me that he's making a joke. He's smiling wryly, and people are laughing with him. Come on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrsBKGpwi58

comment #17

BurmaShave says ...

Rev. Slappy, read Gail Sheehy's HIlary campaign article in Vanity Fair: Bill Clinton doesn't use email either. It could almost be considered an advantage. Just saying.

comment #18

supertaster says ...

You're wrong, Jeff. I'm on the fence and it's *precisely* this type of shit that pushes me towards Obama.

Despite his horrifying economic plans and having achieved nothing greater than writing an autobiography after 100 days in the Senate, BO comes across as lucid and gives me confidence that *he* will have a hand in every decision--whether I agree with those decisions or not-- and will not allow his party to completely steer the direction of his adminstration.

McCain, on the other hand, seems less intent (or less capable, as this video deonstrates) of understanding and dealing with all of the issues a President must face. The last 8 years show us what that can be like...

comment #19

D.Z. says ...

JHR: "Nice touch calling Americans stupid and racist, BTW. What wonderful country claims you?"

Rummy called Europe "old" and McCain trashed Germany and France, so I guess it's fair game.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/07/24/2003-flashback-mccain-bashed-germany-and-france/#more-31263

comment #20

rockne says ...

Okay, so a country such as the US is a mirror of the leaders it elects.
The mouth-breathers elected a mentally-handicapped man TWICE because he made then feel comfortable. And the conservatives smart enough to see Bush is an idiot voted for him simply because they hate everything liberal.
Half this country still wants the Bush policies and the "oldness" of McCain because it makes them feel comfortable to think there's someone just like them in the White House.
The Republicans have a choke-hold on the Rove playbook: "Obama is an egotist"
"Obama is not like you and he doesn't understand you."
It's one of the greatest political snowjobs in modern political history and the republicans are going to use it as long as possible. I mean, I hate Romney, but his own party threw him away why? And Huckabee is a rube, but he was worse than McCain why? The GOP is choked by old white men with an agenda, and while the Democrats have an agenda, it has not been proven to be as awful for this country as the "great" policies of the GOP.
The democrats need to be nasty and mean and act as the mouth-breathers and ignorant smart GOP'ers to get elected. But since they won't, right-wingers will be able to put someone like this on display and GET HIM ELECTED.
It's going to be a sad four more years.

comment #21

JHRussell says ...

Funkdaddy:

Then you are the only person who watched the tape who believes it was an intentional joke and not some sort of gaffe.

If it was a a joke, then why did Obama later admit to a reporter he gaffed?

comment #22

Ghost072 says ...

The 57 states thing is such a non-starter - which highlights all the more the desperation of Republicans this year. Obama obviously meant to say 47 states (one more, plus Alaska and Hawaii - hey, that's 50!), but he had been campaigning non-stop, was tired and misspoke...period. The fact that Republicans keep bringing it up - as if Obama genuinely believes there are 57 states - is just pathetically desperate. So, by all means, keep it up, it is fun to watch...

comment #23

JHRussell says ...

Ghost072:

Exactly - it was a gaffe - he misspoke. That is all.

Follow the argument in the thread, dude. When McCain commits a gaffe, it is "obvious evidence" of senility or alzheimers or being too old, but when Obama gaffes, it is an "obvious joke."

Nobody said Obama doesn't know the number of states. But to call his gaffes "obvious jokes" and to call McCain's "obvious evidence of senility" is the problem here...

comment #24

Ghost072 says ...

Humans are going to misspeak now and then, especially with the amount of speaking that political candidates do. But the larger point is that McCain is making these types of gaffes constantly, and his age is a legitimate concern. I worry much less about a candidate misstating the number of states than I do them misidentifying our enemies - we've had enough of that the past 8 years, I think.

And after all, you do say "Nothing comes close to Obama's statement concerning the "57 US states"..."

Sorry, but for me, confusing - on multiple occassions, no less - Sunni and Shiites and claiming that Iran is supporting Al Qaeda is a much larger red flag than anything Obama has done.

comment #25

JHRussell says ...

Constantly?

Better get used to it, because your boy Obama is going down...better hope he hasn't fathered any "outside" chilluns like Edwards...

comment #26

Ghost072 says ...

"Constantly?"

Yes, constantly. You should pay a little more attention to your candidate.

"Better get used to it, because your boy Obama is going down...better hope he hasn't fathered any "outside" chilluns like Edwards..."

Such false confidence, followed by a shot in the dark hope and then a racist throwaway. Nice work. You've proven to be just as weak and ugly as I suspected from your first post on this subject.

comment #27

JHRussell says ...

Ghost:

So I am weak, ugly, and racist?

Umm, lighten up, bub. You Obama folks are so eager to play the race card it isn't funny...and it will backfire for your candidate the more he does it, so bring it on...

comment #28

Ghost072 says ...

"You Obama folks are so eager to play the race card it isn't funny...and it will backfire for your candidate the more he does it, so bring it on..."

I am not eager to play the race card and neither is Obama, but when race keeps popping its head up - as in the use of the word "chilluns" - then he will respond and so will I. I get several emails a week with racist jokes and innuendo referring to Obama, most of them with hundreds of people on them and no one, that I can see, says a word. That kind of behavior is unacceptable and I am not afraid to say so.