McCain on MTP

I caught about 5 minutes of John McCain on Meet the Press just now, and was actually a little surprised by his performance. My surprise wasn't due to anything he said, which was predictable. What caught me a bit off guard was how old he seemed. Maybe I haven't seen him live on TV for awhile or something, but I was struck by the apparent lack of fire in his belly and the general slow-speaking tiredness that seems to have overtaken him. he spoke VERY quietly and deliberately, as if it took extra effort to string his thoughts together. His jokes fell flat, and he barely smiled.

One of the larger drawbacks to a McCain nomination IMO is his age. Sure, he's not exactly Reaganesque quite yet, but after 15 years of solid White House baby boomerage I'm not sure this country will be as keen to elect an older man as they once were. Reagan, for all his popularity, did give the elder statesman image a bad name with his pre-Alzheimers problems during his second term. McCain will be 72 in 08, and 76 if he were to win and run a second term, 80 when leaving office for good.

I think the folks (Indies, Dems) who have early interest in McCain remember him from the 2000 primaries, when he was vigorous and sharp. He seemed younger than his actual age in 2000, but now he seems older than his 70 years. As the primary season heats up leading into 08, I think many folks who haven't paid close attention to him, since '00 will be surprised to see this McCain. As time passes and McCain gets more national press, I am less and less doubtful about how he'll fare in the primaries. I am quite confident it will be 2000 redux, IF he even runs.

I know 72 is not old anymore. But compared to some of his older colleagues (Kennedy, Rangel, come to mind), John McCain just seems to have given up already, or has otherwise extinguished whatever fire he has in his belly.

Maybe it was just a bad morning for him on MTP, and to be fair I have not seen him live.

Whaddya think? Will ageism be in play in 08?

•  I hope ageism won't be in play.

  I do hope that how wrong he's been on Iraq will. I hope his flip-flopping and pandering will be in play.

  by Newsie8200 on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:14:15 AM PDT

  •  That will be in play of course.

    But in today's TV age, when appearance and persona make a huge difference to determining how one connects with voters, I think he will have problems that he did not have in 2000.

    He had the same old response to the war as usual.

    by ablington on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:19:11 AM PDT

    •  Yep

      Chuck Hegel is emerging as the "new" McCain.

      by Sharon Jumper on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:49:37 AM PDT

      •  Interesting comparison.

        Hagel is the only Republican I have heard anything good said about lately by Democrats I know.

        by ablington on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:51:19 AM PDT

        •  yes, he's playing it well

          he's probably the only real competition to McCain for the nomination. And he's definitely out-maneuvered the Senator from Arizona in the past month.

          by land of the free on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:05:03 AM PDT

        •  With good reason!

          He actually began speaking the truth about Iraq BEFORE the November 2006 elections!

          
          Hegel in Nov 2005:

          Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) strongly criticized yesterday the White House's new line of attack against critics of its Iraq policy, saying that "the Bush administration must understand that each American has a right to question our policies in Iraq and should not be demonized for disagreeing with them."

          ...Hagel, a Vietnam War veteran and a potential presidential candidate in 2008, countered in a speech to the Council of Foreign Relations that the Vietnam War "was a national tragedy partly because members of Congress failed their country, remained silent and lacked the courage to challenge the administrations in power until it was too late."

          "To question your government is not unpatriotic -- to not question your government is unpatriotic," Hagel said, arguing that 58,000 troops died in Vietnam because of silence by political leaders. "America owes its men and women in uniform a policy worthy of their sacrifices."

          Hagel in July 2006:

          Hagel also blasted the Pentagon’s plan to send 5,000 additional U.S. troops to Iraq, saying the move was opposed by several four-star generals:

             [Hagel] said that in the previous 48 hours, he had received three telephone calls from four-star generals who were "beside themselves" over the Pentagon’s reversal of plans to bring tens of thousands of soldiers home this fall.

             Instead, top Pentagon officials are suspending military rotations and adding troops in Iraq. The Pentagon has estimated that the buildup will increase the number of U.S. troops from about 130,000 to 135,000.

             "That isn’t going to do any good. It’s going to have a worse effect," Hagel said. "They’re destroying the United States Army."

          Hagel — unlike Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) — understands that "staying the course" in Iraq isn’t an option.

          Hegel in Aug 06:

          Appearing today on CBS Face the Nation, Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) described Iraq as "a hopeless, winless situation." He harshly criticized the Bush administration’s recent decision to increase troop levels calling it "very wrong" and "irresponsible."

          Hagel said Iraq was "headed" toward a civil war. He was adamant that "we cannot put American troops, and ask them to do the things that we’re asking them to do in the middle of a civil war." Hagel added, "I hope this administration has got a way out of this."

             HAGEL: There’s no good options here, no good options. I–I would move toward a higher ground toward right back to what you talked about, Bob, the regionalization. I would–I would get the first President Bush, President Clinton involved and try to impanel a–a regional security conference, a regional diplomatic conference. The UN can be part of that. Unless you come at it that way, we’re going to be leaving Iraq, and it is not going to be the way we intended to leave Iraq. Because that–that is the direction of where this is going. It is very wrong, Bob, to put American troops in a hopeless, winless situation, just keep feeding them in to–to what’s going on. That’s irresponsible and that is wrong.

             SCHIEFFER: But if, if the United States leaves, won’t you somehow have a confederation of Iran and the government there with the Shiites that are in–in–in southern Iraq?

             Sen. HAGEL: Bob, like I said, there...there–Bob, Bob, there are no good options here. That–that may well happen, I don’t know. But let me ask you the question, and I hope the president and his people are starting to ask themselves this question, that what is–what is the alternative? Are we going to put our troops in the middle of a civil war? Who are they going to fight? This will be slaughter of immense proportions. The American people will not put up with it, the leadership in Congress will not put up with it. I hope this administration has got a way out of this, because yes that’s a tough question, Bob, but the fact is that may well be the way it turns out. But we cannot put American troops, and ask them to do the things that we’re asking them to do in the middle of a civil war, and that’s where it’s headed.

          by Sharon Jumper on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:05:23 AM PDT

  •  His age is important and it should be in play

    when a candidate runs for the highest office in the land.

    Reagan was too old, Dole was too old, and so is McCain.

    by FelisRufus on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 07:02:06 PM PDT

•  He looked like a corpse

  His performance was weak and he looked awful.

  by otto vb vs on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:16:54 AM PDT

  •  Can't he do something about his wattle?

    by irate on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:24:23 AM PDT

  •  I thought he sounded like he'd been

    sedated.  Between that, and his soporific repetition of Bush talking points, he sounded like a man "in the last throes" of losing his soul.

    I agree that McCain's reputation as a straight-talking maverick is based on memories of 2000. That guy is long gone.  I hope McCain makes many more appearances like the one on Eat the Press today.  

    by litigatormom on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:02:40 AM PDT

  •  He looked tired and defeated

    Of course, after six years of kissing Bush's ass despite the smears perpetrated upon him by the Bush administration during the 2000 primaries, I'd feel tired and defeated too. Not to mention humiliated, embarassed,...

    by kissfan on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:09:03 AM PDT

  •  Dead man talking.

    by Hillbilly Dem on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:13:35 AM PDT

  •  Two TV's can provide an interesting contrast.

    Our bedroom is equipped with two TV's, his and her's. [BTW this is the secret behind 31 years of marriage, take note newly weds!]

    It was interesting watching John McCain on MTP, on one set, and Chuck Hegel on FTN on the other and at the same time. While the rest of the world wouldn't see this as a debate between these two... in my unique situation... I did!  

    While Hegel might have the bigger bags under his eyes... chicken neck McCain looked too tired and ill equipped to handle his current job let alone that of the President.

    Definitely the turtle vs the hare... the worst TV appearance since Nixon debated Kennedy!

    Tim had John under the gun too and I about rolled out of bed laughing when he played MoveOn.org's TV commercial where John is practically sucking "w" off.. what a hoot!

    Neither of these boys can beat whoever will emerge from our pack... BUT if I were McCain... I would be content to retire to Sun City, AZ because as I see it he has to much Iraq baggage to even beat out Hegel!

    by tshaw1 on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 10:00:58 AM PDT

•  Vanity Fair has a nice group portrait of some

  Democrat Elder Statesman in this month's issue...Kennedy, Byrd, Rangel, Dingel, and Conyers (The Old Bulls). All of whom, with the possible exception of Byrd, still have the fire in their bellies.

  by ablington on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:17:12 AM PDT

  •  Don't count out Byrd

    I caught his swearing in as Presisent Pro Tempore and if he could have danced a jig he would have he was so excited.

    by demkat620 on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:20:38 AM PDT

  •  You should hear Byrd orate on the Senate Floor

    He still has fire in his belly, of that there's no doubt.

    by PatsBard on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:26:40 AM PDT

•  Caught it too.

  He looks old and tired but he's still the same son of a bitch.  Today he called the vote against escalation a vote of no confidence against the troops.  Russert asked him if it couldn't be seen as a vote of no confidence against the administration.

  He might be tired because he knows his presidential aspirations are going up in flames right before his eyes all because of Bush.  Bush fucked him over 7 years ago and he's fucked now because he decided to sell his sould to the Bush Admin.  Frankly, it couldn't happen to a nicer guy.  There's nothing worse than a radical clothed in moderate clothing.  

  by DisNoir36 on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:17:56 AM PDT

  •  my thoughts exactly

    I posted this on FDL a few minutes ago:

    McCain looked bad on MTP today because he's in shock. Bush pulled yet another old trick on him to make the Senator look bad. By going for a "mini surge", McCain is forced to support the President’s failing policy. McCain can’t run away from the Presdient, and this seriously undercuts his Presidential aspirations.

    Yes, McCain can try to run away from Bush's policies (by saying "it’s not enough troops"), but he basically has to endorse Bush’s unbelievably shitty policies once again.

    He can’t craft his campaign in the direction he wants to go, as Bush is in the GOP driver’s seat. Bush is gonna ride out this war "for the next President to solve", and the horrors of the Iraq war (along with the mess in Afghanistan) will hang over the Republican nominee’s head like a badge of shame.

    McCain will oscillate between a despondent "oh how in the shit did I get into this mess" personality and his oft-displayed cocky asshole personality.

    by land of the free on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:24:32 AM PDT

  •  I agree except

    I think McCain's presidential prospects are going up in flames because of his own blind ambition, his dishonesty, his pandering and his stupid, destructive ideas. He got burned by Bush because of his own black heart.

    by everhopeful on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:30:11 AM PDT

    •  Ironic, isn't it?

      He sold out to Bush because he wants to be President so badly.  Because he sold out to be Bush he will never be President.

      by sherlyle on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:31:40 AM PDT

      •  Karma's a bitch, isn't it? n/t

        by litigatormom on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:05:27 AM PDT

        •  Yes, it is.

          by FoundingFatherDAR on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 10:17:53 AM PDT

    •  Yes and no

      While McCain is all those things it's largely because of Bush that he's been exposed.  In 2000 when few people knew him they bought the 'straight talk' bullshit not realizing it was bullshit.  There are few people out there now who are buying it.

      by DisNoir36 on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:34:04 AM PDT

      •  precisely

        and you must wonder if the "media darling of 2000" is not going to get such fondling by the press for 2008. People in Arizona, and certainly many in the media biz from around the country, know that he can turn on the charm when needed, but he can be a caustic, mean prick quite often.

        Bush truly pulled some nasty tricks in 2000 to pull the rug out from under McCain. (Not saying that I didn't mind seeing nasty McCain be the recipient of nasty tricks... but frankly, I think we'd be in less of a mess if McCain instead of Bush were the 2000 GOP nominee). Bush continues to pull the strings to mess up what McCain sees as his "right" - to be President. McCain has pandered and held his acid tongue so much, and had to kiss up to this man to try and gain support of the base. And Bush continues to f**k with him. It has to really chaffe his balls.

        To hear that a major force in the Evangelical Right community is giving him a vote of no-confidence leaves McCain without a good answer. He's smart to not lash out at Dobson, because McCain will still likely become the GOP nominee, and they'll rally behind him in an "anti-Hillary" campaign.

        by land of the free on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:54:13 AM PDT

    •  The entire sequence on Dobson was surreal

      Maybe that is what has McCain down. He was incoherent on the subject, doncha think?

      by Clem Yeobright on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:40:19 AM PDT

  •  Did you

    catch the part where he said that Lieberman would not have won in Connecticut if the public did not understand the complexities of the situation in Iraq?

    I was hoping that Russert would cite Lieberman's lies during the general election but it was in vain... of course Timmeh was silent.

    by nyc in exile on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:33:32 AM PDT

    •  Thankfully no.

      I would have had to buy a new TV if I did.

      by DisNoir36 on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:34:35 AM PDT

    •  McCain seemingly enjoys attaching

      himself to unpopular politicians.

      by ablington on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:34:42 AM PDT

      •  Heh

        Maybe the Freeper rumors about him being loco en la cabeza have a semblance of truth to them.

        by Sharon Jumper on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:51:29 AM PDT

    •  Yes, that statement screamed at me..

      and Timmeh did nothing.  They are all frying their own asses.  The gig is up, but unfortunately, Bush, Cheney, et al, will continue to kill our troops and Iraqis.  Bastards, and the useless Condi bitch, all of them.

      by blubryeyes on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:00:46 AM PDT

  •  I like your perspective...

    :o)

    by blubryeyes on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:58:55 AM PDT

  •  Was glad Tim called him on his comment -

    Russert asked him if it couldn't be seen as a vote of no confidence against the administration.

     surprised that he did, but glad he did.  I was so ticked at McCain's accusation.

    by FoundingFatherDAR on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 10:19:49 AM PDT

•  I had exactly the same reaction about his

  performance on MTP. He seemed slower and slurred his words. Something was different and not in a good way.

  by Jimdotz on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:18:08 AM PDT

  •  Exactly.

    I wonder if something's up.

    by ablington on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:19:52 AM PDT

  •  He could have mailed it in

    It was a re-hash of the distortions he has been presenting for weeks.

    If Americans opposed the war, Lieberman would not have won.

    The polls mean nothing.

    Everything was going swimmingly until the Golden Dome mosque bombing.

    We have always been at war with Oceania.

    And McCain didn't even try to make it look like any of his arguments might be persuasive to anyone, since it was obvious he was unpersuaded himself.

    Remember when Phil Gramm was the irresistable force in the Rethug party? He spent something like $20 million to end up with one delegate at the convention.  Thither goes McCain.

    [Also: Wasn't Ted Kennedy wonderfully gracious towards McCain? It was like he expects him to be dead by the end of the week . . .]

    by Clem Yeobright on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:33:10 AM PDT

    •  I missed Kennedy.

      Howd he do?

      by ablington on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:39:18 AM PDT

      •  Better than I have seen him in a LONG time

        He was motivated, realistic, puzzlingly gracious towards McCain (who had just accused him of 'not supporting the troops'), and articulate!

        by Clem Yeobright on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:42:10 AM PDT

        •  Teddy is older than McCain

          and yet he seemed much younger -- passionate, energetic, and yes, coherent.

          by litigatormom on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:07:23 AM PDT

        •  Kennedy looked great

          He looked fine and incredible relative to McCain who is several years younger. He could afford to be gracious and it resonates with people.

          by otto vb vs on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:14:06 AM PDT

•  I caught the beginning of his

  response to Russert about Afghanistan.  "I am not aware of that..."  and flipped the channel.  I don't need to hear from anymore people who don't know what's going on.  McCain just looks done.  Not old so much as overexposed and overhyped.

  I still don't know who McCain's constituency is.  What's the attraction?

  by demkat620 on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:18:54 AM PDT

  •  I remember on election day last fall

    on the Boston Globe's website they had a board for people to post who they voted for for governor, and who they wanted for president in 08. A disturbing amount of people who voted for Dem Deval Patrick expressed their desire to see McCain be president.

    Truly, I think these are mostly semi to non-political folks who remember him from 2000 and havent paid much attention since. I think it really illustrates how powerful his 'maverick' image has managed to hold up. However, I think as he gets more exposure it will go up in smoke.

    by ablington on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:23:08 AM PDT

    •  There are too many deluded lo info voters

      out there who worship at the McCain altar. They swallowed the maverick crap in 2000 and they're still parroting it.

      It's extremely frustrating.

      by bumblebums on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:33:35 AM PDT

      •  I think theyll be in for a bit of a shock

        once they start paying attention again.

        I think the odds are increasing that McCain wont end up running anyway.

        by ablington on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:35:48 AM PDT

        •  Stars are lining against him

          It's safe to say that the Grover Norquists on the right hate him.  Dobson and the loony fundies hate him.  Ant-war Republicans won't support him.  Who does he have left?

          If he makes it out of the Republican primaries he'll be lucky.  It's still early but I kinda agree with you, if things get worse in Iraq and McCain continues to look like he did today, I doubt he'll be up to running for President.  It almost seemed like he's coming to that conclusion himself.

          by DisNoir36 on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:43:08 AM PDT

  •  I caught that too. How the hell

    can a guy who says he knows what's best for this country and has a plan to "militarily win" Iraq be UN-F***ING AWARE that troops are being taken out of Afghanistan to fulfill the plan he endorses for Iraq??  I've had a bellyful of guys who order shit around without the slightest idea what they're doing.  McCain is Bush, only even bigger and badder.

    by sherlyle on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:30:14 AM PDT

    •  McCain was sent out on MTP...

      to simply vomit in preparation for the State of the Union.  He's been bought and sold and blackmailed, and he's an empty soul now.

      by blubryeyes on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:02:45 AM PDT

      •  Hadn't considered that McCain's playing

        the "John the Baptist" role for Bush's "Jesus into Jerusalem".  He was preparing the way, wasn't he?

        by sherlyle on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:57:52 AM PDT

  •  At this point

    his constituency seems to be the media.  I don't know what the attraction is, but they love him.  Hopefully the masses will soon be as tired of him as I have been for years.

    by poe on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:34:34 AM PDT

•  McCain didn't strike me as old, as much as...

  ... he seemed dispirited, like even he doesn't believe a word of what he's saying.  He was just repeating the same tired old lines.  When Russert asked him when he was going to officially announce his candidacy for President, I got the sense that he recognizes that such a run is increasingly unlikely to succeed, like he has lost interest in it.

  Compare that with Ted Kennedy, who followed him, and was spirited, clear-minded, and determined to see to it that the President implement the get-out-of-Iraq-soonest policy now backed by a bipartisan majority of Americans.

  by tbetz on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:21:01 AM PDT

  •  That's exactly the sensation I got.

    Of course, it's easy to project onto a blank slate.  He could have just been tired.  He could have a touch of the flu.  Who knows?  But I definitely got the sensation that he doesn't even believe the lies he's telling.
    He struck me as a man who has made a bargain with the Devil, and now recognizes that not only has he lost his soul, he's lost his political future as well.

    by jazzmaniac on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:26:34 AM PDT

    •  I don't think he was sick...

      he was slurring his S's (esses?) like and old man might.

      by Jimdotz on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 10:38:52 AM PDT

      •  But my wife thinks it sounded like a stroke.

        by Jimdotz on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 10:41:41 AM PDT

  •  He looked like a sad, beard-shaven lawn gnome

    ...stuck in a garden of weeds somewhere out on the Bush ranch back 40.  

    by Iddybud on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:59:28 AM PDT

  •  McCain's words were one thing....

    his soul was indifferent.  Nothing behind the words.  He's way, way gone.

    by blubryeyes on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:03:59 AM PDT

  •  Perhaps also...

    McCain is regretting his positioning with BushCo., had been promised something early on, bought into it, and now he's being fucked royally again.  Bush didn't give a shit about McCain years ago, what made him think for one minute that buddying up with him would make a difference now.  He sold himself down the river.  He gets what he gets.

    by blubryeyes on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:05:23 AM PDT

  •  The North Vietnamese couldn't break him

    but George W. Bush did.  He was like the Manchurian Candidate.

    by litigatormom on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:10:24 AM PDT

•  Watching him now

  He looks forlorn and sounds despondent. Like a lone puppy in the shop window.

  Not the most effective demeanor for winning a major election, whatever your age.

  He also trotted out his lame argument that Lieberman's victory was a vote of confidence in the war - leaving out of course that Joe won with withdrawal rhetoric.

  He has permanently screwed the pooch with his McLieberWar.

  by bumblebums on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:21:20 AM PDT

•  MSNBC will re-run at 4pm and 10pm EST. n/t

  by cosette on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:24:31 AM PDT

  •  And there's always the webcast...

    available here at about 1PM or so.  I record it weekly at 2PM.

    by tbetz on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:30:13 AM PDT

•  Melanoma

  I understand that he has had surgery and is in remission.I hope it hasnt returned.Im afraid its not his age but his health.I wish him well but sick or well,old or young, I dont want him anywhere near the WH.

  by kayfromsouth on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:26:49 AM PDT

  •  Uh, slight correction.

    Being a melanoma survivor myself, let me say that McCain has had numerous "surgeries" (excisions) over the years to remove melanoma and other so called skin cancers (Eg. "pre-cancerous" basal cell carcinoma.)  Having skin melanoma does not immediately affect your general health unless it has advanced to the lymph nodes or other major body parts.  Melanoma can show up in various places besides the surface skin, such as eyes.  
     Melanoma

    The records also said McCain regularly has suspicious skin lesions or moles removed -- often basal cell carcinoma, the least aggressive and most common type of skin cancer.

    Article on 2000 episode

    by FoundingFatherDAR on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 10:52:23 AM PDT

    •  Family history

      My brother was diagnosed with melanoma in 1986.He died in 1989.He was 42.It spread from a bump on his leg to his whole body.Thank God you survived.Hope McCain will be ok.

      by kayfromsouth on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 11:29:58 AM PDT

      •  My sincere condolences.

        That is why early detection is so critical.  I was 41 when diagnosed.  In my case I went longer than I should have before getting a growth on my ear checked; it was borderline stage 3 when excised.  I was damn lucky.

        by FoundingFatherDAR on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 12:03:02 PM PDT

•  That was

  the first thing I noticed as well.  I'm not sure if it is so much his physical age as an exhaustion from being mired in the duplicity he has found himself as of late. To go from a prisoner of war to someone who now advocates sending troops into another quagmire predicated yet again on lies must be terribly defeating.  He is a beaten broken man. That's what happens when you sell your soul.

  by nyc in exile on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:28:26 AM PDT

  •  Yes, he sold his soul....

    absolutely, and now he gets what comes with it.

    by blubryeyes on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:07:40 AM PDT

•  McCain's tiredness had little to do with chrono-

  logical age and much to do with the bankrupt nature of his policy pronouncements. Ted Kennedy is two or three years older than McCain but, when he appeared immediately following McCain, he was animated and aggressive and showed no signs of tiredness in arguing for a radical change in direction. Remember - McCain is trying to convince us to stick with wrong-headed and failed policies, something probably even he knows regardless of his attempt to argue in favor of the Bush surge.

  by alba on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:44:32 AM PDT

  •  From the history of this administration...

    his performance may all be the prelude to the Bushco hate/war-mongers passing the buck, rile-ing up the world community, then saying, okay, we'll do what you want, but if anything goes wrong, it's all your fault.  They're all manipulators and liars, and cowards.  He's part of the cowardess that they are all wallowing in.  They will attempt to make it look like they did everything the could...we've heard that rationale, right?  And then they will blame everyone else.  It's already a mess over there.  The same old thing has not worked, and it won't work again.

    by blubryeyes on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:10:57 AM PDT

•  My sister, my daughter and I....

  watched McCain on MTP this morning, and our primary observation is that his soul is gone.  He's regurgitating rhetoric, his eyes are empty, there's no feeling behind what he's saying.  His mouth is saying words, but he has no soul.  This guy's been bought and sold (or threatened/blackmailed), like so many others.  My sister said she used to look to him somewhat as some glimmer of humanity and hope in the Repug party, and now he's just an empty vomiter of Bushco warmongering and talking points.  He's gone.  Way, way gone.  And there's no coming back, it seems.  He's as dangerous as the rest now.  No spine.  No integrigy.  No honesty.  No reality.  No truth to power.  No independent thought and conviction.  The poor soul now comes across as dead inside.  He may be tired and old, but he's been bought and sold to the devil.  It was his choice at some point.  But, it's done.

  by blubryeyes on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:57:36 AM PDT

•  Surge first; then set up measures

  I thought it was so strange that McCain talked about the need for the "surge" yet seemed to be saying that after the surge, THEN they'd figure out how to measure if it was a success.  What?!  It's unbelievable to me that he would actually think it's "ok" to put U.S. troops in the middle of the mess in Iraq and at some indefinite time later on they'll decide what success looks like.  I don't see how the man thinks anyone could listen to him and give any serious consideration to what he's saying.  We're talking people's lives here!  That really sickened me.  Also, that monotonous, half-dead sounding tone of voice was just creepy.

  by 3goldens on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:59:21 AM PDT

  •  He knows this isn't going to work...

    he has said so.  He's the front man for setting all the escalation opposers up for taking the blame.  Just wait and see.  The big attempt at fucking us all, again, is coming.  It's their cowardice and incompetence, but they will blame all the others who are living in reality.  They should all be put on trial and jailed or put to death.

    by blubryeyes on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:13:07 AM PDT

•  Reagan was 69

  ..when he elected president. His health declined significantly only after the assassination attempt in 1981.

  One could postulate a similar effect on McCain should he wish to continue the [mis]adventure in Iraq, a rapid aging.

  by Scarce on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:15:37 AM PDT

  •  McCain's assassination attempt...

    has already taken place.  BushCo is fucking killing him and any chances he had in the Repug race.  And they certainly don't care.  They screwed him years ago, and he just didn't stay away.  He's either been threatened or he just has terrible judgement.

    by blubryeyes on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:18:46 AM PDT

•  Framing McCain

  Is it John McCain's intention to ignore the commanders in the field too?  Is this what we have to look forward to with a President McCain?  If so, aren't we just getting more of the same.

  by jannakc on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:24:57 AM PDT

•  The smile factor

  has come home to play.
  How many times have we watched these nincompoops proclaim how smashingly well our services have improved  the lives of the average Iraqi, with a bizarre smirk/grin on their faces?

  Perhaps they are aware of how psychotic they actually look on TV speaking of war, death, blood and destruction while smiling and joking about it.

  It would make me feel more comfortable if they would make these Joker-type appearances with the whole John Wayne Gaycee clown costume and make-up on.

  by OCMIHOP on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:36:04 AM PDT

•  Didn't see McCain, but did listen

  (I was in the kitchen making coffee, so wasn't watching the show during his interview).  I was taken aback by how demoralized he sounded, as if he really didn't believe what he was saying.  He was definitely the most reserved I've ever heard his, as far as the tone of his voice and lack of "enthusiasm."
   One thing I did catch, which I'll paraphrase until the transcript becomes available, is that when Tim asked him about something Al-Maliki (?) said, McCain answered "some politicians will cater their statements to fit the crowd they're speaking to."  Uh, John, did you listen to your hypocritical self?  How many times have you changed your comments to fit the group you're speaking to?  

  by FoundingFatherDAR on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 10:12:14 AM PDT

  •  P.S. - another thing McCain said

    that ticked me off.  He said that Dems not supporting the escalation showed that the Dems had a lack of confidence in the troops.  B.S. - I have confidence in the troops, I do not have confidence in the Generals and other leaders.

    by FoundingFatherDAR on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 10:14:58 AM PDT

•  It's slow suicide.

  If you remember, McCain said that he would rather commit suicide than be in a Democratic congress.  We didn't think he kept his word, because nothing happened when the Congress went Democratic.  But, with his strange promotion of his theories on how to "win" in Iraq, he is slowly killing himself anyway, and his chances of ever being president.  He comes off often as bat shit crazy in wanting to send many more to Iraq than even Bush is sending, and thinking that that is going to help his chances of getting elected.

  McCain is a very controlled person.  Maybe he developed an over control of his emotions when he was a prisoner in Viet Nam as a way to protect himself, but he doesn't seem to be able to losen up, act spontaneously, or let go anymore. His attempt to keep his emotions in check so that people will not see him as emotional and overreactive is getting in his was of living and communicating effectively. My guess is that he could probably use a therapist, but what presidential candidate wants the opposition to find out he has gone for psychiatric help.  I'd be sad for him, if I was so happy about it.

  by hopscotch1997 on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 10:21:02 AM PDT

•  He semed depressed

  To me I found myself thinking that about Iraq and military policy he really believes what he is saying about not wanting to give up on a war but knowing in his heart that it is already over and we lost,  and that he felt the same way about his presidential prospects.

  He certainly had a chance in 2000 if things played out just right for him,  and then he decided in 2004 to support Bush's re-election and sell his pride for the chance of being his heir,  and now he doesn't have his pride and he doesn't have a chance of becoming president.

  I think he is bright enough to know all of this and is just playing out the losing game.

  by AlanR on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 10:33:37 AM PDT

  •  Playing out the losing game...

    I'd be okay with him inflicting that on himself by choice or happenstance, if 20+ American soldiers and countless Iraqi civilians weren't getting killed daily!!  Evil, heartless bastard.  No spine.  Shame on him.

    by blubryeyes on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 10:44:51 AM PDT

•  Shakey, threatened, uncertain

  I was actually amazed at how bad McCain looked. I will offer a hypothesis: He is totally motivated by his presidential bid, and absolutely confused by the way his popularity is dropping.

  Awhile back I wrote a diary about how we might stop his cannonization before he became a "done deal." It's getting late. The time in which mainstream media (even Repub media) can offer him free face time on the basis of the fact that he is a "maverick" (yeah, sure!) is coming to a close. Now, they must counter him with a thinker like Kennedy. McCain's window of opportunity is closing, and Iraq is blocking his way.

  He made a "bold" move. He asked for an escalation figuring Bush would never do something so stupid, and he could ride the "I told you so" wave to the presidency. But Bush actually double crossed him.

  Several other answers were actually incoherent today. He totally ducked the question about his waffle on the bill which would have forced the Fundy Fundraisers into accountability. He looked pasty and confused.

  by MrMichaelMT on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 10:40:59 AM PDT