McCain's Aversion to Jangling Keys

[Emit]

A YouTube video went a little viral today (h/t Paddy).

The videographer, Joeyess, has disabled the embed feature so I can't post it here. But how's this for an idea - a whole bunch of people at the DNC get a keyrings filled with keys to represent each of John McCain's houses that he forgets he owns. And then they start jingling those keyrings everytime McCain's name gets mentioned at the convention. It would be payback for the Republican conventioneers in 2004 who sported purple bandaids mocking Kerry's war injuries and subsequent Purple Heart.

Sounds cute and maybe a little dumb. The DailyKos diary for this hit the rec list and the diarist was linked to by Atrios, TPM and PM's own contributor from Americablog, John Amato.

There's just ONE small problem. From Salon discussing the release of McCain's medical records in May:

There are behaviors associated with the candidate that would be consistent with a diagnosis of PTSD. Author Robert Timberg mentions McCain's intense explosions of anger --- a hallmark sign of lingering mental trauma from war -- in his book "John McCain: An American Odyssey." Timberg describes the episodes as "an eruption of temper out of all proportion to the provocation." Timberg, who McCain has said "knows more about me than I do," wrote that McCain's sudden fury is a result of Vietnam coming "back to haunt him." McCain has himself described having an adverse reaction to the sound of jangling keys, which reminds him of his Vietnam jailers. McCain also told doctors that during solitary confinement he had strayed pretty "far out" and had referred to himself as "mentally deteriorating."

(italics and bold mine)

So any attempt to pull off this little stunt, if it even takes off, would surely be perceived to be mocking a POW's PSTD. But then again, how many people know that the Senator suffers from PSTD? That's a little disturbing and not much reported.

To be fair to "Joeyess" he was unaware when he made this video and posted it on Kos and got linked to by blog superstars, that McCain has a jangling key issue.

And to be fair to Senator McCain - no matter how viral this gets or how fun it seems - Convention Dems - don't do it. It's a lose-lose.

But maybe someone can look into this PTSD thing a little more?

http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2008/08/22/mccains-aversion-to-jangling-keys/

edit to add links

[anonymous171]

1. As much as I want revenge for 2004, we shouldn't make fun of McCain's PTSD

But we should make fun of his "houses" gaffe.

[Emit]

3. The bigger question remains

Is McCain fit to serve as POTUS if he has PTSD?

[Barack_America]

4. Of course not. But this is not the way to begin that conversation. nt

[ProSense]

5. That's the problem isn't it?

Nobody is beginning the conversation.

You have been saying that the GOP/media will bring it up.

If they don't, the conversation doesn't begin.

Houses, that is the current discussion.

[symbolman]

33. WE have to Say it

I've posted it on a thread of its own - that if he's so UnHinged by the Jangling of Keys that he can't deal, then he is UNFIT, and should step down.. Spread it far and wide, it's a FACT folks..

Thanks for your service McCain, now go get some HELP.

What's next, "McCain will be disturbed if anyone argues with him, or mentions that he's shouldn't draft and kill innocent people in Useless wars of agression.."?

Fuck McCain, get someone in that office who can DEAL WITH REALITY.

And what about all the Right Wingers that say WE CAN'T TAKE A JOKE, even McCain said that to Obama, when he created those nasty ads..

Uh huh.

Good for the goose, it's good for the gander.

[Emit]

10. The conversation has begun, and it is likely to continue

Hopefully, what will result is that we don't see the insensitivity of jangling keys at the DNC, but instead, the information is learned that McCain's aversion to jangling keys is a manifestation of PTSD -- something the public should all be aware of.

[demobabe]

30. Then let's invite John McCain to tea

And talk nicey-nice to him while he wages a 100 year war and kills our children.

[demobabe]

31. EXACTLY, and the answer is NO! One hundred million times NO!

McCain is senile and is DAMAGED goods! We're supposed to have the best and the brightest leader in the highest office in the land!

Not a senile, doddering old man who becomes unglued when he hears something rattle.

Heck, that means he can never go to California because there might be an earthquake.

[LynneSin]

42. But it was ok for them to mock every soldier who ever was awarded a purple heart

:shrug:

[Barack_America]

2. Glad to hear that someone out there in the blogosphere is actually thinking this through.

I'm a little disappointed that Atrios at least didn't know better than to link that shit.

[Emit]

6. The originator of the idea has a solution -- John McCain's House Keys (revised)

John McCain's House Keys (revised)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3afi7Jz7NU

[Kire]

48. big huge foam keys!

much better

[BlooInBloo]

7. So if they're not jangliy, it's all good?

[ProSense]

9. They're probably made out of

cardboard or foam.

[DainBramaged]

8. I think the emphasis by "members" here on the PTSD matter with Gramps

is a ploy by the RNC and Gramps' campaign because they have NOTHING LEFT and the people of this country are smart enough to realize the keys mean HE OWNS TOO MANY HOUSES.

God we are just weak. Which is why the RNC has cleaned our clocks since 1994 and Bush is president.

[Emit]

11. Are you questioning my membership, DainBramaged?

[DainBramaged]

13. Not yours, but you should see the responses elsewhere

some people are vehement against using this against the McCain house ownership. Too vehement.

[Emit]

16. Oh, I think I saw part of the thread you refer to - but, I had no patience for reading its entirety

McCain's house ownership and his PTSD and aversion to jangling keys is fair game, IMHO. But, I doubt jangling keys at the DNC is the solution, under the circumstances. There are better ways to address both issues.

[dogtag]

37. I got it!

Barack can wear a big old charm bracelet in the debates. Keys? What keys? Or perhaps spurs that jingle, jingle jangle.

:evilgrin:

[BlooInBloo]

12. Doesn't much matter to me, if making the keys non-jangly solves the problem.

It's an easy accommodation to make, which might even make it better, for the cartoonish-value.

[Emit]

14. The originator of the keys idea has revised it a bit - see post #6

Large card board cut outs - or something to that effect

[BlooInBloo]

15. Good enough - the video wouldn't load for me.

[flamingdem]

26. If it is outside the convention who cares, but they probably won't allow that inside nt

[DainBramaged]

17. Plastic keys are fine, but "SOME" think we are being cartoonish

Ask John Kerry about being cartoonish in 2004, and how the RNC fucked him over with their little purple band aid stunt.

[BlooInBloo]

19. That's a strategery issue, not a moral one, so I'm whatever about that.

EDIT: Clarified.

[BlooInBloo]

18. self-delete - wrong branch.

[flamingdem]

23. I agree 1000% that this issue is being presented with a nasty undercurrent like the Pod PUMA attacks

of last Thursday. Those were started and supported by "members" also.

[carpe diem]

24. If the Republicans had medical documents on a Democratic

candidate for president that said he has freaking post traumatic stress disorder! and certain noises freaked the guy out, they would have 17 different ads running questioning his fitness. Is this really the guy you want on that phone at 3:00am?

I cannot believe this has not and is not being reported and, in all fairness, if the Democrats tried to make use of it, the 'barbecue media' would be full of indignation and outrage at them.

[opihimoimoi]

20. bad bad

:spank:

[progdonkey]

21. please, make them as jangly as possible then...

Make them talk about the fact that he has PTSD. That he does in fact have completely irrational and unprovoked fits of anger because of it. That he curls up into a ball at the sound of keys.

I have nothing but sympathy for the vets of this and all past wars who have to deal with PTSD and other war wound, mental and physical, but shouldn't PTSD so severe that someone's afraid of keys jangling disqualify a person from being president? Seriously, if a guy can't handle the sound of keys jangling, how can he handle the stress of being president?

Instead of lose-lose, it's really win-win. I'm sure many more people have heard the houses gaffe than "McCain doesn't like jangly keys", so upon seeing the keys, most viewers would correctly associate them with the houses. And when McCain and the Faux media try to counter it, they'll just be informing people that McCain has PTSD, while the viewers will still understand that the reference was to houses, except now they'll also know that McCain has PTSD so severe that keys--fucking keys--scare him.

[flamingdem]

22. He's been "vetted" for that so that issue won't sway minds nt

[ProSense]

28. What a crock.

McCain has been vetted for being traumatized by jingling keys?

BS!

[WeDidIt]

36. IF they report on it, he hasn't been "vetted" on it

Sorry, can't have it both ways. Either he's fit or he comes unglued at the sound of jangling keys.

[CTyankee]

43. I don't think that's the problem.

As I see it, the problem will be the framing the pukes will give it as "making fun of a POW". I think it is far better that Obama's surrogates go after McLame on the issue of whether POW status is enough experience to get you the presidency and to not shy away from THAT argument.

[flamingdem]

25. Follow the leader, Obama would not approve and it won't help get him elected nt

[DainBramaged]

40. How do you know he would not approve? Are you on 'the team'?

[glowing]

27. Great.. so if elected, Putin will only have to jingle some keys to have WWIII started.

Great..

[Emit]

29. Scary thought, huh?

Seriously scary.

[glowing]

34. yep

[SoCalDem]

32. Easy solution.... nerf keys

Boy-howdy.. Mccain has a free-pass on EVERYTHING from his POW status..

cheat on wife....PTSD
can't remember anything?...PTSD
never bothered to learn stuff he should know?? PTSD

Lying POS?...PTSD?

[DainBramaged]

41. Dems get an idea to skewer him, PTSD

it will be an all-out screech fest at the RNC convention, and we're worried about how we'll look to the rest of the Country? Most people can't remember what they had for breakfast let alone worry about how they look on National TV.



This is for all of the Willie weak Knees out there who think we should be nice to Grandpa McSenile

[WeDidIt]

35. OH PLEASE LET THEM COMPLAIN!

I WANT the American people to think McCain can come unhinged at the sound of jangling keys when he has his finger on the nuclear button!

[WinkyDink]

38. Shouldn't "McCain's intense explosions of anger ...out of all proportion to the provocation"

get SOME discussion, in SOME context?

Deosn't need the "keys" bit. I'm saying it's a DANGEROUS TRAIT for a PRESIDENT.

[Emit]

39. Yes

very definitely in my opinion, this needs to be discussed. And I hope that all this jangling key stuff going around on line will be picked up by MSM. Maybe Keith with do a spot on it -- soon.

[slackmaster]

44. With two dozen threads discussing some kind of key metaphor, I am very glad I found this one

Thanks, Emit. You saved my morning.

[Ganja Ninja]

45. If this guy is so unstable that a set of jingling keys can set him off

then he has no business running for the presidency.

[lumberjack_jeff]

46. If keys will make him flip his lid, better sooner (and on camera) than later. n/t

[jhain]

47. Bu, now, see.....

the problem we would have is that Democrats are not sheep like repubs are.

We have brains and hearts and souls and consciences. The mere thought of ridiculing someone's service to this country is an anathama to most of us. Be it with jangling keys or purple heart band-aids.

We do not sell our souls for gain a few times every day like the repub voter is capable of doing.

[TexasObserver]

49. That's another good reason to rattle keys. If he flips out, all the better.

My friends, if he's vulnerable there, we hit him there.

"It makes me crazy" is not a good defense to losing one's temper over keys.

This is WIN-WIN. First, we get to taunt him about the houses in a way all Americans will get. Second, we get to show how lame he is when under attack, how psychologically unfit he is to be president.

Anyone who buys that stupid "we're beating up on a damaged POW" theme is already staunchly supporting McCain.

[sweettater]

50. DON'T DO IT!

Please.......................

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

51. That was an episode from Hogan's Heroes.

Don't fall for anything McCain says.

[gort]

52. Okay, then how about rattling 7 Mail Boxes?

Bulky yes, but how can they complain about that?

[hedgehog]

53. Kick for those who came in late to the discussion

Like me
:)

[TexasObserver]

54. This strategem works on both levels!

First, it gives a loud, audible, distinctive taunt which reminds everyone that McCain has so many houses and is so far removed from most Americans that he cannot understand their struggles to keep their home.

Second, if the GOP tries to play POW defense, they merely underscore how nuts this little jerk off is.

[judasdisney]

55. What about MY aversion to shredding the Constitution?