McCain and Letterman, together at last
I’m not a Letterman fan. But I hear tell (via Instapundit) that McCain’s appearance on Letterman the other night went rather well for the old guy, and Letterman’s ratings went through the roof that night.
I don’t really think these sorts of appearances matter that much, politically speaking. But if you go to the comments section of the article, you’ll see a curious thing. There are a bunch of posters there claiming that until now they were undecideds, but after watching McCain on Letterman they’re voting for him.
I hate to be such a cynic, but I have to say they sound to me as though they might be sock puppets. No, they don’t use the same words, but something about their tone and even their names seems awfully repetitive (either a single name such as Mike or John or Marie, or something descriptive like “Changed My Mind!“).
Follow the links and judge for yourself. But watching a bit of the clip, as well as McCain’s appearance at the Al Smith dinner (go to You Tube and do a search for all the tapes; there are quite a few segments) reminded me of something I’d forgotten: that McCain’s got a good sense of humor.
When he was nominated he was not my first choice; I was for Giuliani. But I thought McCain was a decent guy with many good qualities, and one of them was that he knew how to mock himself and how to make a good quip with an impish gleam in his eye.
That all got lost in the slog of the campaign. It was a disappointment to me that, in the debates, his humor was nowhere to be seen. It’s good to see it return; too bad it may be too late to help him.
All is time I thought McCain was your first choice. There is an AP article out today that the Europeans are pushing for deeper integration of the World banking system and more government regulation. The article talks about loosing national autonomy for stability. The article fails to point out the role the US government played in this mess.
The EU call themselves a “non-expansionist Empire”.
I call them a wannabe America.
Hey Neo, did you notice how when McCain was self-deprecating it wasn’t the same way Bush would do it? McCain brought up subjects like ACORn and Joe the Plumber but BUsh would never have done that because it would have been too mean of him.
I hate to be such a cynic, but I have to say they sound to me as though they might be sock puppets.
I don’t think you are being a cynic. I think you are just suspicious. Which is a good trait to have in these modern times, Neo.
It’s not too late. Voters believe in the American Dream.
Yeh, I had the same “sock puppet” thought about the people claiming to have decided for McCain based on the Letterman appearance. Liberal Democrat from Austin? I kind of doubt it. Did they change their minds because he said “I screwed up”? I don’t get it. Must be a lot of people looking for an excuse if it’s true.
Greetings:
I’m afraid that I don’t share your assessment that these appearances don’t matter much politically. What disturbs me is the “reductio ad” entertainer effect of these appearances on the Office of the President. When, as a young infantryman, I was promoted to sergeant, my favorite Platoon Sergeant told me, “Here’s your stripes. And, remember that now your first name is Sergeant.” That advice stayed with me through all of my career and was a great managerial lesson. You can be friendly, but you can never be a friend; you’re responsibilities preclude it.
As for Mr. Letterman, himself, I lost any respect I had for him as an entertainer due to his “Great Moments in Presidential Speeches” segment which he used to ridicule President Bush. I sent him an e-mail saying maybe President Bush didn’t speak very well, but he knew to marry his wife before he made her pregnant. Mr. Letterman’s limitless internal anger (covered by a smile) will be my revenge.
Really?
I watched the whole thing and I thought Letterman’s treatment of McCain was awful even though I think McCain handled himself well.
For most of the whole thing, Letterman was bent on belaboring various things that couldn’t help but make McCain awkward.
For at least more than a third of the interview, Letterman was grilling McCain on “how could you possibly pick Sarah Palin?” Essentially, “don’t you think Sarah Palin is dumb and unqualified” rephrased in different questions over and over and over again.
And of course there was also, “it’s so awful that you’re trying to associate Obama with Ayers’ terrorism,” which went on for another third of the interview.
Sigh. Maybe I read too much into it and need to re-watch it.
Right you are, neo! No Letterman fan myself, I didn’t mark my calender for that appearance. However, I did catch McCain’s entire speech at the Alfred Smith Memorial Dinner. He was so “on” that night. It was hysterical — he even had Obama doubling over in his seat w/ laughter (only because much of McCain’s humor is of the self-deprecating sort. Most of us have seen how thin-skinned Obama can be, so that wasn’t the best place to go — especially in an audience of mostly MSM’s)
Starting with the last debate, there has been that sparkle in his eyes, and more significantly — a smile on his face. Not a patronizing smile; not an arrogant I-am-the-King-and-you-are-my-loyal-subjects, and not the self-congratulatory grin when he has made an especially pointed attack against McCain and his crowds roar wildly in appreciation.
At the dinner, McCain, with a renewed confidence (something that might have been lost along the campaign trail and is now recovered) showed himself to have comic timing as good as the best of them — the applause stopped the show numerous times. It was so good that I watched more than once (for those interested, when I last looked there were partial videos up on UTube (about 7 out of 15 mintes worth) It was just pure good entertainment.
In contrast, Obama seemed quite nervous (ironically). He had a few “cute” lines, but his deliery was stiff and disjointed after
following McCain.
That smile has continued on the campaign trail these last few days — though I’m sure it different in private — at the thought of what’s been done to “Joe,” as well as the carrying-ons of A.C.O.R.N. and the rather unbelievable response of the Supreme Court upholding Ohio’s Secretary of State petitioning for a stay re; her responsibility to accurately ad fairly oversee the election process.in the state and insure it’s fairness.
As, for Joe, the anger I feel barely exceeds the disgust at that which he has been subjected to. I for one, would be happy to contribute some money to those back taxes. If anyone knows of a site which allows one to do so — please let me know.
The threat to Joe, who was sougt out by Obama (with his swelled perception that there could not possibly a person who did not swallow his bull hook, line & siker) and the subsequent invasion of Obama disciples ordered to get any “dirt” on Joe to disqualify his earnestness — should be a warning to every last citizen, what could await them should Obama and majorities in both Senate and House come to pass.
We’ve seen it in Russia; in China; Venezuela; Iran; in Iraq until Saddam Hussein was eliminated; in Cuba — and elsewhere. But, ironically, with so much Reality TV flooding our airwaves, the Obamaphiles view these threats as unreal — so far away that they could never possibly touch Americans.
We may be in store for a bit of : Surpise, Surprise, Surprise! if enough voters don’t wash the glitter dust out of their eyes and brains and think critically in the next couple of weeks!
the personal aspects of McCain is appealing.
Originally, i was voting for McCain because (in order)
1. for Palin
2. against Obama
3. for McCain.
After the Al Smith dinner, it has changed to
1. for Palin
2. for McCain
3. against Obama.
he really endeared himself to me with his Al Smith performance. i did not watch the Letterman interview but i could understand why some undecided could decide for McCain.
I loved McCain back when he ran against Bush. I didn’t understand what people saw in Bush that made them choose him over McCain. I did come to like Bush, actually, and I think he has been severely mistreated by the horrific left, to the point that they have crippled the Presidency.
I promised myself I would vote for McCain if he ever ran again.
It sickens me to see the demonization aimed at him – to the point of interviewing his captor and presenting it as “we had some great chats” when in fact he was tortured.
It sickens me to see the attacks on Palin. I don’t mind tough questions, or tough situations, she’s going to have to deal with the worst of the world (Putin, and dinnerjacket, and more) but what’s happened here is far more than tough scrutiny.
To see it turned on Joe the Plumber is surreal.
Appearances on Letterman and SNL – and the dinner the other night – may go a long way to showing people that they AREN’T they demons the Left portrays.
May it BE.
Well, my first choice was Scoop Jackson, but unfortuantely he’s been dead for twenty-five years.
I’ll be voting Republican for president for the first time in my life, my votes dating bck to 1972. If I needed any inducement it’s beent he Obama campaigns reaction to criticism.
If the McCain campaign had officially urged followers to flood a call-in show, not to get on and ask questions but to tie up the lines, or Republican elected officials had threatened criminal libel charges against McCain supporters, the media would be screaming long and loud.”
The left has been the greatest threat to free speech for several decades, and there is no reason to think that an Obama presidency would do anything more than intensify that threat.
I’m with you, Alex.
The very best I could hope for with Obama would be a replay of Jimmy Carter, and my memories of that are painful. I seriously doubt that he will even measure up to that.
This will NOT be the first time I’ve voted Republican, not by a long shot.
But, it WILL be the first time I’ve ever voted a straight party ticket; in my current mood, it will be a LONG time before I ever consider a Democrat for anything again.
“I watched the whole thing and I thought Letterman’s treatment of McCain was awful even though I think McCain handled himself well.”
Well, that’s exactly it. McCain, rather than looking like a grumpy old man with a temper, was collected, in charge, and sharp (witted too). He made Letterman look like a stammering fool who didn’t have the courage to say what he really thought, or the cleverness to elicit a bad reaction from McCain. McCain looked like the kind of guy you want to be President. I think, to people who’ve been getting the caricature handed to them by the MSM all these months, an appearance like this could sway some opinions, expecially as I believe there are many who are voting for Obama not to vote for him, but as a referendum against Bush. They can be swayed.
McCain was not my first choice, either. I decided that I had to learn to embrace him since the alternative was not an option for me, and more importantly, for my children. I went to a McCain town hall meeting and was unexpectedly inspired by this man. What I experienced in this arena was a sense of patriotism that I haven’t felt in a long time. He brought me back to a time when we actually looked up to our politicians. I suddenly understood who he was, a man from a generation of men who have too much respect to lower themselves to the level of our current idols.
Those of you who haven’t seen him “up close and personal” (we were in the front row), are missing an element that can only be seen in the eyes of this man. They say that the “eyes are the windows to the soul.” When I looked into Senator McCain’s eyes, I saw the soul of a man who would never do anything to harm this country. I saw the soul of a patriot, a man who embraces freedom, and has a kinship with every veteran from every war. I decided that character is the ONLY issue that really matters in a leader because all other decisions will be made relative to it. It’s like building a house on a strong foundation. I believe that Obama is a flawed man mentally, and his values and judgement (and need to be loved by all) are simply a product of a foundation build on sand. A leader cannot care if people like him; it is their undoing.