It's over.

[WilliamPitt]

(Caveat: I have been known to make the occasional inaccurate prediction from time to time. Or, put another way, generally speaking, I am about as skilled at making accurate predictions as Bush is at saying "Nuclear.")

But, I mean, come on now.

This? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/24/mccain-asks-to-postpone-f_n_128968.html

Predicting that "It's over" after this is like predicting which direction the sun'll come up from tomorrow. This is like predicting that you'll get wet if you step into the shower. This is Fish + Barrel = Boom.

This is it.

This is lethal.

The media will let him down easy, because of all the good times they've shared over the years. Maybe they'll even try to ease the sting by saying this is the kind of bold move only a real maverick would dare attempt. After the laughter dies down, that'll be pretty much that...

...Thanks for coming out, turn out the lights when you leave, and can someone Fed-Ex that dipshit of a dolt of a dunderhead of a running mate back to the Alaskan snowbank she came from? Thanks, God bless America, and man, this campaign sucked so bad it bent the light...

I predict the last vestiges of credibility will finish hemorrhaging from the McCain campaign within 24 business hours.

But I've been wrong before.

;)

It's over.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

1. water has been known to be wet

which is my way of saying i agree with your prediction

[wryter2000]

24. Or as Jim Ward says

"Ursine mammals void their bowels in sylvan environments."

[H2O Man]

55. Is the bear Catholic?

Does a pope shit in the woods?

[roguevalley]

58. I can't wait to read the insider books. :)

[babylonsister]

2. Well that's a ringing endorsement...or not.

I do believe this was a bad, bad move.

[yellerpup]

3. You're right this time.

As long as we have an election....

[AspenRose]

4. I hope you're right this time too!

[LynneSin]

5. This debate is a perfect opportunity to bring the economic crisis to the people

and have Obama and McCain debate the merits of why their party is best to lead us thru this.

McCain's name has been smeared all over this with his connections to Freddie Mac and Phil Gramm. Plus his son was involved with some shenigans AND we have Keating 5.

If McCain was that concerned then just move the debates to DC so they can be close to Washington DC.

But these are republicans and they managed to steal 2 elections. I ain't celebrating until the fat lady sings.

[radfringe]

13. I'm with you... I'm not popping the cork on the champagne bottle

and I don't hear the fat lady singing

the way I understand the situation - the repubs are going to fall in line behind mccain - this is his moment of leadership, and they will do their best to make him shine and spin it as the second coming

the dems have to do the same - and more importantly - OBAMA needs to be up front FIRST

[zazen]

19. YES: debate is OPPORTUNITY to help public better understand crisis and PARTICIPATE IN DEMOCRACY n/t

[EFerrari]

6. I think you're right. And I hope they do it kindly. n/t

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

7. er, you can step into the shower without getting wet...

.. it's when the water is on that causes the problems! LOL

[Bluebear]

8. 'because of all the good times they've shared over the years'

'After the laughter dies down'

and

'within 24 business hours.'


Well done, William! :applause:

[MadrasT]

9. "This campaign sucked so bad it bent the light"

:spray: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Oh, man, thanks :toast:, I *really* needed that. :hug:

[fishnfla]

10. internal polling will be leaked

they are drowning

[soleft]

11. I think people like multi-taskers

I think they want to have a beer with them

[Lex]

23. Yes. All big events as President don't come one at a time.

So if a person can't multi-task a few big things, then that person isn't up to the job.

[Contrary1]

12. McCain to suspend TV ads also...

I just can't stop smiling.

[tavalon]

51. Well coordinated pig you have there

Love the lipstick!

[elizfeelinggreat]

14. headline to the right of that story:

Networks Revolt Against Reporter-Blocking Palin UN Meeting

[DarthDem]

15. You, Sir, Are . . . Correct!

There is no way they would be taking these sorts of ridiculously desperate moves without DISASTROUS internal polling - - which is probably worse than the already-disastrous (for them) public polling at the state-by-state level. I think you're right and it is over. :bounce:

[Jacobin]

16. I have the (dis)advantage of living amongst deep dark red-staters

My take is that they will say: "McCain is being a statesman by saying lets stop this partisan bickering and get to work fixing the problem. We have a crisis here" and they will applaud his postponing the debates (which they weren't going to watch anyway since they've already made up their minds that they would rather have a war hero(tm) in the WH than a Muslim).

How it will play out among the daft undecideds is another matter. I have no clue what (or if they even) think.

Politically, it is also pretty astute to let this financial mess shake out a bit, see which way the wind is blowing and hop on that train, rather than staking out some position that in three weeks will be seen as wrongheaded.

I didn't say this was a good thing. I said it was probably a clever thing, given the electorate we have.

/my crystal ball also very smudgy

[momto3]

30. I live in TN and I agree with you.

I am already hearing people say that this is a bold move for McCain and that Obama should follow suit.

I really hate living here some times!

[Cleita]

17. What if?

I've been having these thoughts. What if both McGrampa and Mooselini don't make it to the election for whatever reasons, then what? Has there ever been a precedence for this, maybe even on a state or municipal level? Who will run on the Republican ticket instead? Will there even be an election and will Obama/Biden win by forfeiture like a game? What would happen?

[NYCGirl]

21. The GOP will run Alan Keyes.

:evilgrin:

[Wednesdays]

26. My guess would be the GOP top brass would hold an emergency

they'd hold an emergency caucus, and pick new nominees.

But if that were to happen, it would be a nightmare for them 'cause in many places the ballots are already printed with McCain/Palin on them. :popcorn:

[csziggy]

41. They could always run Ron Paul...

[Doodler71]

31. Mooselini...

Oh... my ... gawd... that is good. I hadn't heard that one yet. That's is one of my favorites right up there with Caribou Barbie.

My sides hurt. :rofl:

[Cleita]

33. Actually, another DUer coined that whose name escapes me now.

I got it through Bluebear though. It's so appropriate though.

[cboy4]

18. I like predictions!

:thumbsup:

OCTOBER 5

[redqueen]

20. I'd love to share your optimism.

Sadly, I can't. Too many people I've talked to whose outlooks scare the crap outta me.

One medical tech a friend talked to said he supported Obama... but he's "too busy" to vote.

*sigh*

[Lex]

22. One can never go broke betting on the stupidity of the American people.

I forgot who said that, but it's true.

[liberalhistorian]

35. It was H.L. Mencken, and he said that

"no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people." I believe he also referred to many Americans as "Boobus Americanus."

[Doodler71]

32. hand him an absentee ballot

if he's not registered bring him that form.

[DS1]

25. You know who else said you'd get wet if you got in the shower..

:yoiks:

[WilliamPitt]

27. Bonk

:)

[AntiFascist]

28. I would agree, but never underestimate the Media, or Karl Rove n/t

[chill_wind]

29. I've been saying it matter-of-factly for two days. The McCain/Schmidt Campaign is in a death spiral.

An unrecoverable spiral, I'm thinking. WE finally get to say "Fun Steve" really IS (politically) dead.

[bleever]

34. Survey says:

Correct!

:toast:

[SammyWinstonJack]

36. 24 business hours?

:yoiks:

[WilliamPitt]

37. Wakka wakka wakka.

[bridgit]

38. Well, well, well now me bucko!! You just go right outside right now, turn around 3 times...

...and spit! Then knock wood. Seriously! :spray: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6992271 :rofl:

[Ellipsis]

45. Fuck an A!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYO0b_zqfHI

[bridgit]

56. Very Cool! I love the writing of Patrick O'Brian, but that's just me...

:kick:

[orleans]

39. well, letterman spent 3/4 of his show kicking mcstoop's ass

for cancelling at the last minute and reaming him about this "suspending the campaign" crap

[onenote]

40. I hope you're right. But I still think its too soon to start celebrating

He's definitely flailing. But McCain has been counted out before and it was a mistake. Anyone who thinks he's going to quit ignores McCain's own record.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070711/news_1n11mccain.html

[mzmolly]

42. I said as much when McCain picked Palin.

But, I do hope you're right. :hi:

[Human_Flavored_Tofu]

43. He probably just realized that the shit is about to hit the fan and he doesn't want to be in charge

when it happens. He's a coward

[Gregorian]

44. I want to be cynical, but I can't.

The media will be a Republican loudspeaker. We'll still win. But, BUT, in an intelligent country this election would be such a monstrous landslide that no pollster could fake it. It's too damned close. 70/30 is too close. The company that sells Palin's glasses is backordered for Christ's sake. That pisses me off.


Yeah, it's over. And I can't wait. And even I am excited and even...ugh...HAPPY.

I'm even rehearsing how it's going to sound when I get to tell the first whiner what a sore loser they are. But then I have more class than that. Maybe.

[struggle4progress]

46. It's all over except for the lies and fraud, which have pained us so much in the past and

will continue to pain us in this election

To misquote Clausewitz: Politics is war conducted by other means -- and we surely must have learned in recent years that our opponents prefer their war without honesty or decency

Oh, yes, it is ours to win: but there are a few long marches yet ahead, before we even begin to collect ourselves among the ruins

[Leopolds Ghost]

47. If Debates were still held by the LWV then itd be Obama vs third parties. but Dems dont seem to want

open debate, so no debate will occur, for fear of "legitimizing"
the notion that we are a multiparty democracy, so there will be no debate,
and thus no opportunity for McCain to look bad. Sorry, Will, but I think
you're wrong on this.

[Leopolds Ghost]

48. Hell, someone just got threadlocked for suggesting the debate go on as planned

Obama vs. the other legitimately constituted Presidential candidates, minus McCain.

It was considered third party advocacy to suggest Obama appear on the same stage with such people, so... no open debate, no League of Women Voters, so... no harm done to McCain.

McCain don't get hurt by a debate that Obama decided not to have in his absence (unless Obama feels McCain's political beliefs are more legitimate than the third party candidates, that is... the ones who oppose FISA and whatnot)

No harm done to McCain by this,

unless a televised event occurs for him to skip. Sorry.

[earth mom]

49. So are you saying McCain is over, finished? That'd be nice, but I hardly think Rove would agree. nt

[tavalon]

50. I don't think you're coming off half cocked this time

This is the whackiest implosion of a Presidential campaign I have ever seen. I sleep days and every afternoon, my hubby gives me the daily whacky but today, today, we we're both in shock. I even said, "Fish.Barrel.Boom", which is one of my favorite stolen phrases.

[McCamy Taylor]

52. Will, you underestimated the election fraud in 2004. Don't do it again.

We have to keep campaigning all the way up to election day and go for an all out turn out, because with voter suppression and fraud, the GOP can steal up to 4-5% in some states (those with GOP SOS and Attorney Generals).

[tavalon]

53. After today, I've decided to go on a schadenfreude diet

Today felt like Thanksgiving day after having eaten way too much. I want to continue to enjoy the schadenfreude up to and including the election so I need to not glut anymore. That's my goal. Whether the Republicans will start acting in a dignified enough manner to help me with my goal is anyone's guess. And if Jesus Christ on a Trailer Hitch shows up between now and the election, someone is going to have to roll me away from the schadenfreude.

I'd like to say this fiasco makes up for the last eight years, but it doesn't.

[OakCliffDem]

54. Kick

[uppityperson]

57. Hi Will, was wondering if you were still around, hadn't run into you recently.

We shall see. I have learned to try to not predict.