McClatchy Newspapers won the MRC’s 2008 Dan Rather Award for the Stupidest Analysis for its article spinning the success of the troop surge in Iraq as bad news for Iraqi gravediggers. Apparently the editors are aiming for a repeat performance at next year’s program.
In his June 26 article, writer Stephen Thomma, on the recently released debate proposal by the Commission on Presidential Debates, found a stature problem for the Illinois senator should he agree to sit-down townhall debates.
Here’s the relevant excerpt from "Under Debate Plan, Obama Loses Height Advantage":
Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama would sit at a table at two of three presidential debates this fall, according to a formal proposal unveiled Thursday, which, perhaps unintentionally, would neutralize Obama’s height advantage.
[…]
Obama is about 6 feet 1 inch tall; McCain is 5 feet 9. Candidates often try to use their heights to gain some sort of advantage in face-to-face debates, but it doesn’t always work.
Al Gore wandered close to the shorter George W. Bush in 2000, who dismissed him with a shrug as if to say, "What are you doing over here?"
But there’s still hope:
The leaders of the bipartisan commission, former Democratic National Committee Chairman Paul Kirk and former Republican National Committee Chairman Frank Fahrenkopf, said the candidates' seating arrangements at the debates still could be open to negotiation between the campaigns.
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Further, in a debate, he
June 26, 2008 - 16:00 ET by Chris NormanFurther, in a debate, he might lose the advantage of a script and teleprompter, huh, Mr.Thomma? Maybe that can be negotiated...
Democrats need all the help
June 27, 2008 - 06:11 ET by kgDemocrats need all the help they can get. Remember Kerry was taller and they praised that height as Kerry looking "Presidential". The only platform Kerry had was the soles of his shoes. Looks like Obama will 'follow in his footsteps'.
"Forget change, I want improvement!"
I think he meant, "Obama
June 26, 2008 - 16:11 ET by JerryI think he meant, "Obama will lose his HYPE advantage during un-moderated debates".
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
Touche, Jerry!
June 26, 2008 - 17:46 ET by SickofLibsTouche, Jerry!
Thomma...is one of the most
June 26, 2008 - 16:17 ET by bigtimerThomma...is one of the most infuriating, arrogant leftists there are...I still will not forget what all he does in conjunction with msnbc every single election year..let alone the McClatchey news line...
I could care less if they sit or stand, makes no difference....it is what comes out of their mouths I care about.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
Latest "New kind of
June 26, 2008 - 16:43 ET by motherbeltLatest "New kind of politics" update:
Rush reported today that Obama's military adviser, Gen. McPeak, said that McCain is fat.
"He was fresh out of jail, you know," Gen. McPeak said. "Skinny kid.
All beat up of course, physically. But quite thin. They weren't feeding
him very well in Hanoi. He's done very well at the dinner table in
Washington." (emphasis added)
Gen. McPeak also claimed that McCain "received special favors when he returned to the U.S."
Well, it's good to know they're staying away from that old, negative style of politics, that "the American people are tired of."
<sarc>
mb... Here is another
June 26, 2008 - 17:33 ET by bigtimermb...
Here is another example of McPeak...word has been going round about this guy for along time now for VP.
I think I put this link here awhile back now while talking about him when I couldn't' remember the Generals name with you...anyway, it's mighty rich isn't it that he's still working mighty hard for the new messiah...
The link was against Bubba...which is also rich in-itself.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
Yeah, I remember
June 26, 2008 - 18:56 ET by motherbeltYeah, I remember that...
"It's a use of language as a disguised insult. We've seen this before, this little clever spin that's put on stuff," he said. -McPeak
It appears he knows all about that.....
Shoot 'em all; let God sort 'em out! - Marge Simpson
When McPeak was Chief of Staff of the Air Force...
June 26, 2008 - 19:19 ET by Prester John....I served in a defense agency with a bunch of AF folks. McPeak was universally, absolutely, positively DESPISED by every AF officer I met. Among other things, not only was he was the genius who came up with the idea of changing the officer uniforms to what were essentially airline pilot outfits, but I believe he came up with a physical fitness test based on riding a specially equipped bike that measured heartrate, oxygen intake etc. It was so screwed up you had guys who were absolute studs fail the test. As soon as McPeak left everything went back to normal.
This guy makes Wesley Clark look rational.
Former AF folks feel free to add to or correct what I've posted.
Hey Prester... Thank you,
June 26, 2008 - 19:26 ET by bigtimerHey Prester...
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this great insight...from somebody that actually knows and lived through this guy...
I could not and do not like him one single bit...I have seen him since I posted that link to mb awhile back now on the msm..he is despicable in m opinion...
I like how you put he makes Wesley Clark look rational...that says everything...
Rumor going around awhile back is he may be on the list for VP with Obama...
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
There is a solution - Obama
June 26, 2008 - 17:20 ET by SickofLibsThere is a solution - Obama will simply need to use an ass-plate to maintain the height advantage.
And McCain should appear in black-face to keep things even.
Problem with this site
June 26, 2008 - 17:35 ET by Don Deskinswhen i try to load this site (Ubuntu 8.04, Firefox 3.0), the site crashes the browser (not just the window). After checking each of my extensions and finding them not to be the problem, I finally disabled the javascript for the site. There is a problem with the javascript with this site.
DD... I have had same
June 26, 2008 - 18:29 ET by bigtimerDD...
I have had same problem in past ect...I agree, I am a novice at this...but javascript is a problem here for me too.
Just wanted to let you know.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
Then put Barry-O in a booster seat!
June 26, 2008 - 18:10 ET by R D HelmProblem solved. :-)
As an aside here, I think McCain will perform rather poorly in the debates. It will be very interesting to see his reaction when his lefty "friends" start throwing real-live grenades at him.
The truth is insensitive. - Neal Boortz
So long as the questioners
June 26, 2008 - 19:39 ET by ThatDudeSo long as the questioners follow through and don't let either candidate weasel away with nonanswers, McCain should do much better. Even if you hate him, McCain generally sticks to his own ideas and doesn't wait for poll results to dictate how he answers. So long as the candidates are forced to discuss what they want to do and how they plan to do it, I believe alot of the hype for the messiah will lessen. Let the man answer "socialism socialism socialism" every time he is asked a question and wait to see the reaction. As weak as the GOP's candidate is, I have a feeling he'll handle the grenades fairly well even if conservatives continue to get taken for granted.
I was thinking along
June 27, 2008 - 03:28 ET by old crothe same lines, only I had a phone book in mind. Then it hit me, he should use a copy of the "US Tax Code" and he would "tower" over McCain.
old cro, LOL.
June 27, 2008 - 21:07 ET by R D HelmMcCain would then look like a midget conservative.
Hey, wait a minute......
The truth is insensitive. - Neal Boortz
Obama "short" on experience
June 26, 2008 - 18:15 ET by wdhorningNever mind his height, he is way too "short" on experience to be president.