McCain 2008

A Debate Drinking Game

Radar  |  Sep 26, 08 4:14 PM CDT

(Newser) - With tonight's presidential debate a go, and happily coinciding with TGIF festivities, Neel Shah rolls out Radar ’s debate drinking game. Some highlights: Take a sip when: John McCain calls himself a maverick; Barack Obama rolls his eyes as McCain calls himself a maverick; McCain calls viewers his friends; Obama calls viewers his brothers. More »

Palin's Parents Pitched in Post-9/11—Trapping Rats

Associated Press  |  Sep 26, 08 4:00 PM CDT

(AP) - More than 6 years before Sarah Palin visited ground zero as the Republican VP nominee, her parents were there as part of the response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks—trapping rats. Chuck and Sally Heath have been part-time Department of Agriculture wildlife specialists for 15 years, trapping or killing animals in Alaska. In January 2002, they went to New York for 2 weeks to make sure birds and rats did not disturb the World Trade Center debris in a Staten Island landfill. More »

Time for Hopefuls to Wax Philosophical

Wall Street Journal  |  Sep 26, 08 11:42 AM CDT

(Newser) - Barack Obama is rising in the polls, but he still seems “exotic”; John McCain is playing the maverick but his maneuvering on the bailout may have been “too cute.” In a week with “all categories upside-down and out the window,” it’s time for both candidates to explain how they think, and why they believe in their respective parties, Peggy Noonan writes in the Wall Street Journal . More »

McCain Will Attend Debate, Cites Progress on Bailout

New York Times  |  Sep 26, 08 11:06 AM CDT

(Newser) - The debate is on. With lawmakers vowing to stay on the Hill as long as it takes to get a bailout deal, John McCain’s campaign said today that he would attend tonight’s debate with Barack Obama, the New York Times reports. McCain is “optimistic that there has been significant progress towards a bipartisan agreement” that takes into account the views of dissenting House Republicans, said a campaign statement. More »

McCain Far Better Than His Idea-Free Campaign: Brooks

New York Times  |  Sep 26, 08 9:50 AM CDT

(Newser) - It’s a shame the kind of campaign John McCain is running, writes longtime admirer David Brooks in the New York Times . No, not because of dishonest ads (Obama has them, too) or a shift in politics, but because it “has no central argument." McCain has a wonderful record of "judgment, honor, and courage," as a senator, but “without a groundbreaking argument about why he is different, he’s had to rely on tactical gimmicks to stay afloat" as a presidential candidate. More »

'Ugly Date' Letterman Skewers McCain Again

Los Angeles Times  |  Sep 26, 08 4:31 AM CDT

(Newser) - The David Letterman-John McCain feud continued last night on the Late Show as the host kept hammering the candidate for standing him up, reports the Los Angeles Times . Letterman, whose guests included Paris Hilton—"McCain's first choice as running mate"—said he felt like an "ugly date" after McCain cancelled on him Wednesday, pleading that he had to rush to Washington—then did an interview with Katie Couric and spent the night in New York. More »

McCain Stymied by GOP Bailout Revolt

New York Times  |  Sep 26, 08 2:32 AM CDT

(Newser) - John McCain made a splash with his dramatic entry into the bailout talks, but he now seems to be floundering, the New York Times writes. The candidate was largely silent during the summit meeting with the president in which the deal was scuttled by Republicans—"more observer than leader," according to observers—while Barack Obama stepped into the role of consensus-builder. More »

Candidates Meet With Bush

Associated Press  |  Sep 25, 08 4:05 PM CDT

(Newser) - John McCain and Barack Obama met with President Bush and congressional leaders in Washington this afternoon to discuss the evolving bailout plan, the AP reports. With the candidates' help, “my hope is that we can reach an agreement very shortly,” Bush said. Key lawmakers said they had reached a tentative deal earlier today, but doubts remained. "I don't believe we have an agreement," said Sen. Richard Shelby, top Republican on the banking panel, after emerging from the White House meeting. More »

'Melodramatic' McCain Misfires

Time  |  Sep 25, 08 3:42 PM CDT

(Newser) - John McCain’s actions yesterday only add to the already-lengthy list of the candidate’s rash overreactions, Joe Klein writes in Time . But this one was particularly poorly thought out, because "the legislative crisis was already receding when he made his melodramatic—and somewhat wild-eyed—suspension of campaign activities statement," writes onetime fan Klein. More »

Gamble Seals Mac's Presidential Appeal

Weekly Standard  |  Sep 25, 08 2:56 PM CDT

(Newser) - Senators and presidents have very different jobs—one debates and compromises, the other decides and acts. By suspending his campaign and heading to Washington, John McCain proves he’s a man of action, William Kristol writes in the Weekly Standard . The bold move might win over voters looking for the more “presidential” and less “senatorial” candidate—and it’s certainly more important than an overrated debate. More »

McCain Casts Himself as Hero of Financial Crisis

Washington Post  |  Sep 25, 08 2:00 PM CDT

(Newser) - In parachuting into Washington to "rescue" the $700-billion bailout for Wall Street, John McCain demonstrated again that he wants to make the election about himself, not his politicies, writes Harold Meyerson in the Washington Post . With the beleaguered economy an area where Barack Obama is seen as stronger, McCain suspended his campaign for a bit of personal heroics. More »

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