Obama Backs Away From McCain Town Hall Challenge

[Willow]

WASHINGTON — Democratic candidate Barack Obama on Saturday backed away from rival John McCain’s challenge for a series of joint appearances before the political conventions, agreeing only to the standard three debates in the fall.

In May, when a McCain adviser proposed a series of pre-convention appearances at town hall meetings, Obama said, “I think that’s a great idea.” In summer stumping on the campaign trail, McCain has often noted that Obama had not followed through and joined him in any events.

On Saturday, in a letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said the short period between the last political convention and the first proposed debate made it likely that the commission-sponsored debates would be the only ones in the fall.


http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/08/02/obama-campaign-accepts-3-debates-with-mccain/

What a coward. Can't handle McCain one on one. Can't handle Fox News!  Now tell me again why I should vote for him!   

[Chris_]

He's gonna get eaten alive at the debates. 

[TheSarge]

He's worried that his arrogance and the fact the normally Lib friendly media has started to turn on him that he'd get asked questions that can't be answered with some little focus group tested slogan.

[Airwolf]

It must suck to not have someone write your responses for you on the spot eh Barry? Everything they have said Bush is or was, Obama is that and more and the cracks in the MSM's foundations built for him are shwoing signs of strain.

[Wretched Excess]

didn't he challenge mccain to "a duel" thursday?  I seem to recall hearing that on the scarborough show friday morning . . . .

[Jim]

It must suck to not have someone write your responses for you on the spot eh Barry? Everything they have said Bush is or was, Obama is that and more and the cracks in the MSM's foundations built for him are shwoing signs of strain.

couldn't figure out how to hide an earpiece in his giant ears.

I can't wait to hear how McC will slap him ala 'there he goes again'.  The old guy will slay the pup.

[Wretched Excess]

It must suck to not have someone write your responses for you on the spot eh Barry? Everything they have said Bush is or was, Obama is that and more and the cracks in the MSM's foundations built for him are shwoing signs of strain.

couldn't figure out how to hide an earpiece in his giant ears.

I can't wait to hear how McC will slap him ala 'there he goes again'.  The old guy will slay the pup.

a couple of months ago, when it looked like it would be mccain vs. obama, I viewed the debates with extreme trepidation.  I thought the young, brilliant, personable, and generally spectacular obama would make mccain look old, slow, and out of touch.

I see it completely differently now.  the more debates, the better.

[Jim]

It must suck to not have someone write your responses for you on the spot eh Barry? Everything they have said Bush is or was, Obama is that and more and the cracks in the MSM's foundations built for him are shwoing signs of strain.

couldn't figure out how to hide an earpiece in his giant ears.

I can't wait to hear how McC will slap him ala 'there he goes again'.  The old guy will slay the pup.

a couple of months ago, when it looked like it would be mccain vs. obama, I viewed the debates with extreme trepidation.  I thought the young, brilliant, personable, and generally spectacular obama would make mccain look old, slow, and out of touch.

I see it completely differently now.  the more debates, the better.

There is a huge difference between an orator and a debater.
BHO may be better than the network anchors at reading teleprompters but is that saying much ?

[Wretched Excess]

It must suck to not have someone write your responses for you on the spot eh Barry? Everything they have said Bush is or was, Obama is that and more and the cracks in the MSM's foundations built for him are shwoing signs of strain.

couldn't figure out how to hide an earpiece in his giant ears.

I can't wait to hear how McC will slap him ala 'there he goes again'.  The old guy will slay the pup.

a couple of months ago, when it looked like it would be mccain vs. obama, I viewed the debates with extreme trepidation.  I thought the young, brilliant, personable, and generally spectacular obama would make mccain look old, slow, and out of touch.

I see it completely differently now.  the more debates, the better.

There is a huge difference between an orator and a debater.
BHO may be better than the network anchors at reading teleprompters but is that saying much ?

the man can deliver an inspiring speech.  in the early going, after the iowa and SC primaries, for example, I even got carried away with his soaring rhetoric.  I forced myself to watch the rebroadcasts with my brain actually engaged, and realized that he wasn't saying anything.

[Jim]

It must suck to not have someone write your responses for you on the spot eh Barry? Everything they have said Bush is or was, Obama is that and more and the cracks in the MSM's foundations built for him are shwoing signs of strain.

couldn't figure out how to hide an earpiece in his giant ears.

I can't wait to hear how McC will slap him ala 'there he goes again'.  The old guy will slay the pup.

a couple of months ago, when it looked like it would be mccain vs. obama, I viewed the debates with extreme trepidation.  I thought the young, brilliant, personable, and generally spectacular obama would make mccain look old, slow, and out of touch.

I see it completely differently now.  the more debates, the better.

There is a huge difference between an orator and a debater.
BHO may be better than the network anchors at reading teleprompters but is that saying much ?

the man can deliver an inspiring speech.  in the early going, after the iowa and SC primaries, for example, I even got carried away with his soaring rhetoric.  I forced myself to watch the rebroadcasts with my brain actually engaged, and realized that he wasn't saying anything.

A really good orator has soaring rhetoric AND a message.

BHO's problem is that when he gets into message, people get turned off.  Evidence his declining poll numbers.

[Wretched Excess]

It must suck to not have someone write your responses for you on the spot eh Barry? Everything they have said Bush is or was, Obama is that and more and the cracks in the MSM's foundations built for him are shwoing signs of strain.

couldn't figure out how to hide an earpiece in his giant ears.

I can't wait to hear how McC will slap him ala 'there he goes again'.  The old guy will slay the pup.

a couple of months ago, when it looked like it would be mccain vs. obama, I viewed the debates with extreme trepidation.  I thought the young, brilliant, personable, and generally spectacular obama would make mccain look old, slow, and out of touch.

I see it completely differently now.  the more debates, the better.

There is a huge difference between an orator and a debater.
BHO may be better than the network anchors at reading teleprompters but is that saying much ?

the man can deliver an inspiring speech.  in the early going, after the iowa and SC primaries, for example, I even got carried away with his soaring rhetoric.  I forced myself to watch the rebroadcasts with my brain actually engaged, and realized that he wasn't saying anything.

A really good orator has soaring rhetoric AND a message.

BHO's problem is that when he gets into message, people get turned off.  Evidence his declining poll numbers.

you must be right, because I really don't understand his numbers.  I can't figure out why mccain isn't getting his ass kicked.

[Jim]

A really good orator has soaring rhetoric AND a message.

BHO's problem is that when he gets into message, people get turned off.  Evidence his declining poll numbers.

you must be right, because I really don't understand his numbers.  I can't figure out why mccain isn't getting his ass kicked.

You have been paying attention Wretch,  BHO has been opening up more and more of what his plans really are.  He either is transitioning to what Bush's plan already is (and I'm shocked at how much is going this way, goes to show he's not immune to what the people really think) or he's sticking to his unpopular and costly new idiocy.  The former is pissing off his base more than its attracting mushy middlers and the latter is pissing off the middlers.   

There is no excuse for him not being up 10-20 pts, none at all.  He's going to crash and burn like former angel Satan.

[Wretched Excess]

A really good orator has soaring rhetoric AND a message.

BHO's problem is that when he gets into message, people get turned off.  Evidence his declining poll numbers.

you must be right, because I really don't understand his numbers.  I can't figure out why mccain isn't getting his ass kicked.

You have been paying attention Wretch,  BHO has been opening up more and more of what his plans really are.  He either is transitioning to what Bush's plan already is (and I'm shocked at how much is going this way, goes to show he's not immune to what the people really think) or he's sticking to his unpopular and costly new idiocy.  The former is pissing off his base more than its attracting mushy middlers and the latter is pissing off the middlers.   

There is no excuse for him not being up 10-20 pts, none at all.  He's going to crash and burn like former angel Satan.

insightful post, jim.

he has abandoned his former "hope, healing, and unity" theme for attacking mccain.  I suspect that is costing him, too.

[Jim]

A really good orator has soaring rhetoric AND a message.

BHO's problem is that when he gets into message, people get turned off.  Evidence his declining poll numbers.

you must be right, because I really don't understand his numbers.  I can't figure out why mccain isn't getting his ass kicked.

You have been paying attention Wretch,  BHO has been opening up more and more of what his plans really are.  He either is transitioning to what Bush's plan already is (and I'm shocked at how much is going this way, goes to show he's not immune to what the people really think) or he's sticking to his unpopular and costly new idiocy.  The former is pissing off his base more than its attracting mushy middlers and the latter is pissing off the middlers.   

There is no excuse for him not being up 10-20 pts, none at all.  He's going to crash and burn like former angel Satan.

insightful post, jim.

he has abandoned his former "hope, healing, and unity" theme for attacking mccain.  I suspect that is costing him, too.

He HAD to.  The primary is over and its time to edge toward the middle to reel in those middlers.  Trouble is he went WAY too far left and his backtracking is so freakin obvious that nobody right of Marx can believe it and  those left of Marx are incensed.

Its the standard gameplan but he went farther than Kerry in attempting to tweek it left early and is seeing the consequences as he cannot come close to Kerry's numbers.

AND he's Swiftboating himself.

I really think he screwed himself by injecting too many of his own ideas into the deal.  His handlers lost a little control and its killing him.

[Wretched Excess]

A really good orator has soaring rhetoric AND a message.

BHO's problem is that when he gets into message, people get turned off.  Evidence his declining poll numbers.

you must be right, because I really don't understand his numbers.  I can't figure out why mccain isn't getting his ass kicked.

You have been paying attention Wretch,  BHO has been opening up more and more of what his plans really are.  He either is transitioning to what Bush's plan already is (and I'm shocked at how much is going this way, goes to show he's not immune to what the people really think) or he's sticking to his unpopular and costly new idiocy.  The former is pissing off his base more than its attracting mushy middlers and the latter is pissing off the middlers.   

There is no excuse for him not being up 10-20 pts, none at all.  He's going to crash and burn like former angel Satan.

insightful post, jim.

he has abandoned his former "hope, healing, and unity" theme for attacking mccain.  I suspect that is costing him, too.

He HAD to.  The primary is over and its time to edge toward the middle to reel in those middlers.  Trouble is he went WAY too far left and his backtracking is so freakin obvious that nobody right of Marx can believe it and  those left of Marx are incensed.

Its the standard gameplan but he went farther than Kerry in attempting to tweek it left early and is seeing the consequences as he cannot come close to Kerry's numbers.

AND he's Swiftboating himself.

I really think he screwed himself by injecting too many of his own ideas into the deal.  His handlers lost a little control and its killing him.

I think he has gotten carried away by believing his own press clippings.

[Jim]

I think he has gotten carried away by believing his own press clippings.

yup.

kinda like this Virginian... and with similar results

[Wretched Excess]

after talking to you and dixiebelle, I am not as worried about virginia as I was.

OH looks ok.  florida is obviously safe.  I don't think mccain will carry PA.  this
election may come down to colorado.

[Jim]

after talking to you and dixiebelle, I am not as worried about virginia as I was.

OH looks ok.  florida is obviously safe.  I don't think mccain will carry PA.  this
election may come down to colorado.

I'm not ready to concede Penn.  Remember, thats where Barry refused to pay walkaround money and it cost him dearly against HRC.

I got a begging letter from the messiah today.  There was a very curious line in it talking about how hard they were goig to have to work (spend money) to KEEP those new registrants motivated.  Same thing I've been saying but a total flip at the rhetoric you always hear and from a letter with his signature.

By the way, if you happen to get on a dem mailing list that sends you postage guaranteed envelopes, send everything back to them (including the envelope it came in) to make them spend the postage for the useless return.  I made funny comments on the letter, cracked my daughter up big time !

[Wretched Excess]

after talking to you and dixiebelle, I am not as worried about virginia as I was.

OH looks ok.  florida is obviously safe.  I don't think mccain will carry PA.  this
election may come down to colorado.

I'm not ready to concede Penn.  Remember, thats where Barry refused to pay walkaround money and it cost him dearly against HRC.

I got a begging letter from the messiah today.  There was a very curious line in it talking about how hard they were goig to have to work (spend money) to KEEP those new registrants motivated.  Same thing I've been saying but a total flip at the rhetoric you always hear and from a letter with his signature.

By the way, if you happen to get on a dem mailing list that sends you postage guaranteed envelopes, send everything back to them (including the envelope it came in) to make them spend the postage for the useless return.  I made funny comments on the letter, cracked my daughter up big time !

I think we are down 6 in PA.  of course, that is within the "wilder" margin of error.

[Chris_]

Another poll analysis from Michael Barone.  So much for "new" voters.

Still, the basic dynamics of the race haven't changed. Obama appears to have a small lead. But he doesn't come close to maximizing the Democratic vote. And there is some evidence that the balance of enthusiasm has shifted and that young people -- who seemed to turn out and vote for Obama in unusually high numbers in the primaries and caucuses -- are no long so enthusiastic about him.

The first bit of evidence comes from the July 10-13 ABC/Washington Post poll. It asked registered voters if they were "certain" to vote. Only 46 percent of voters under 30 said they were -- substantially lower than the 66 percent who said so in the ABC/Washington Post poll taken Feb. 28-March 2, at a time when Obama was enjoying a string of primary and caucus victories and before the sermons of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright were circulated on youtube.com on March 13. The 46 percent of young voters saying in July they were certain to vote was far lower than the 79 percent of 65 and over voters who said they were.

http://townhall.com/columnists/MichaelBarone/2008/08/02/polls_continue_to_show_an_unstable_presidential_campaign?page=1

[Lord Undies]

I figured out what is wrong with The One, but I haven't worked out how to formulate my thoughts into coherent words.  The closest I can come to it right now is that Obama is a product, not a candidate. 

Everyone knows a product is the end result of a lot of research and development and marketing by a bunch of faceless people.  A product itself is just an object with limited use to the consumer.  The ones who really benefit from a popular product are the people who created it.

The people of the USA don't trust a political product with the White House.  Some people are beginning to understand Obama isn't of his own making.  Some people want to know who is behind the making of this object and why they are trying to fool the public into believing this product made itself.   

[Willow]

I figured out what is wrong with The One, but I haven't worked out how to formulate my thoughts into coherent words.  The closest I can come to it right now is that Obama is a product, not a candidate. 

Everyone knows a product is the end result of a lot of research and development and marketing by a bunch of faceless people.  A product itself is just an object with limited use to the consumer.  The ones who really benefit from a popular product are the people who created it.

The people of the USA don't trust a political product with the White House.  Some people are beginning to understand Obama isn't of his own making.  Some people want to know who is behind the making of this object and why they are trying to fool the public into believing this product made itself.   

nail on the head. He is a product of MoveOn. His talking points and positions are all choreographed there. One world social order. All backed by Soros!

[DixieBelle]

Uncle Undies nailed it.

It's too bad Oooobama is running like the little girl that he is. If he's so certain that "he's the one we've been waiting for", why doesn't he just levitate into a townhall meeting and change McCain's water glass into wine? Come on, Obamamessiah, show us your stuff!

[Schadenfreude]

Uncle Undies nailed it.

It's too bad Oooobama is running like the little girl that he is. If he's so certain that "he's the one we've been waiting for", why doesn't he just levitate into a townhall meeting and change McCain's water glass into wine? Come on, Obamamessiah, show us your stuff!

You dare question the power of the Obamamessiah? What are you, a racist cracka? 

[DixieBelle]

Nilla, please!