Weak, Weak, Weak: John McCain's got real problems. (updated)

[ProSense]

Weak, Weak, Weak ...

By Josh Marshall

John McCain's got real problems. This is from David Nather's Beyond the Dome blog at CQ ...

Let the record reflect that Barack Obama made the approach to John McCain tonight.

As the two shared the Senate floor tonight for the first time since they won their party nominations, Obama stood chatting with Democrats on his side of the aisle, and McCain stood on the Republican side of the aisle.

So Obama crossed over into enemy territory.

He walked over to where McCain was chatting with Republican Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida and Independent Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut. And he stretched out his arm and offered his hand to McCain.

McCain shook it, but with a "go away" look that no one could miss. He tried his best not to even look at Obama.

Finally, with a tight smile, McCain managed a greeting: "Good to see you."

Obama got the message. He shook hands with Martinez and Lieberman -- both of whom greeted him more warmly -- and quickly beat a retreat back to the Democratic side.

Campaigns are filled with hyperbole. But this, the no-eye-contact business at the debate and even the over-the-top affect at the Des Moines Register editorial meeting together suggest that McCain feels a sense of palpable disgust with Obama or visceral antipathy for him that is so great he's incapable of overcoming it in public settings.

That's a troubling lack of emotional control. But it seems in line with the character trait many mention about McCain -- that he is unable to engage in any contest without demonizing his opponent in his own head. There are a lot of other possibilities this seems to point to -- none of them pretty.

A SMALL AND PETTY MAN.... The Senate, as an institution, operates through geniality and camaraderie. Every member identifies every other member as his or her "friend." When referencing a colleague, it's a breach of protocol if a senator fails to use the words "gentleman" or "gentlewoman."

So, last night, when Barack Obama saw John McCain, Joe Lieberman, and Florida's Mel Martinez chatting on the Senate floor, he did what gracious senators do -- Obama crossed the aisle to say hello. Martinez and Lieberman offered warm greetings to their Democratic colleague. McCain? Not so much.

<…>

A lot of reporters couldn't help but notice. Jeff Zeleny and Michael Cooper noted that Obama approached McCain, but McCain "barely pivoted his body as he took Mr. Obama's hand for a handshake that lasted just a moment." Carl Hulse reported that McCain only " offered a chilly look" to Obama.

Two months ago, Newsweek's Jonathan Alter described McCain as a " surprisingly immature politician." That's a fair description, but it's becoming increasingly clear that McCain is also a small and petty man. Worse, as the pressure grows more intense, Obama looks cool, relaxed, and in control, while McCain appears to be cracking.

<…>

McCain's emotions are getting the better of him, and revealing a pungent personality. Concerns about McCain's fragile temperament are obviously justified.

[blisteringcold]

1. That's so sad

That kind of behavoir is appauling, McCain is appauling. His heart is corrupt as well as his mind.

[TwilightGardener]

2. I am so looking forward to seeing him lose, just to see his face.

[TornadoTN]

4. He will cry and the concession will be vile, bordering on vulgar

Mark it down. If it happens, and we have long way to go, the fallout from the McCain camp is going to be disgusting and divisive unlike anything we've ever seen.

[Chloroplast]

9. I can't understand why McCain is singlehandedly destroying his own legacy and myth.

The post-election talks are going to be brutal; we haven't seen McCain at his basest form yet and I think even the staunchest GOP supporter will be surprised.

[TornadoTN]

13. He's already destroyed what little good-will people had towards him

All that's left is for his final melt-down, where he turns to the camera from his podium and flips off the American people and says "Fuck you" and launches into a tirade. It would be the first honest thing the man has done in this campaign.

[PermanentRevolution]

16. I can actually see him not giving a concession speech

He seems the kind who just won't be able to acknowledge defeat even after the fact.

[TornadoTN]

18. Remember those "SORE LOSERMAN" T-Shirts and Signs?

Those were bad - but can you imagine how many we would see if McCain pulled a stunt like this? It would effectively destroy any and all credibility that even his own party has for him.

[eshfemme]

3. Ooh... does this mean that the next Presidential debate will have McCain snapping?

Oh man! That'd be awesome to watch-- it'd be a train wreck. Man, Obama's really giving me the impression that he's a chessmaster in comparison to McCain's checkers.

[TornadoTN]

6. We came within a nanosecond of it happening in the last debate!

Within the first 20 minutes too! You could sense that McCain was losing touch with his emotions and that the anger was starting to seethe within him, while Obama stayed on message and stood as a stark contrast to McCain's anything but Presidential behavior.

I have no doubt that we will see him reach critical mass very, very soon.

[eshfemme]

10. Well Obama's a kickass strategist

It's entirely possible that he aimed for the tie in order to piss off McCain for a potentially bigger payoff later on. This is probably the one thing that makes these two candidates different-- Obama's a strategist with a long term view and thus is very stable but adaptable while McCain's just a tactician with a very variable hit or miss goal with no big picture in mind.

So yeah, really looks like there's a concerted effort to put the stresses on McCain. It also shows off that Obama's reaction under pressure is to be cool and detached and not panic. In this case, the tendency to run cooler under fire is a plus for us, the American people. We've had enough of hotheads. Let's get someone like Obama.

[hootinholler]

15. LOL, when I read aimed for the tie

All I could think of was that abomination McCane was wearing.

-Hoot

[FatDave]

21. It looked like somebody pounded a candy cane flat.

And hung it from the old fucker's neck.

Edit to add: I recently saw him wearing a red and white checked one that looked like it was made from a tablecloth.

[FatDave]

20. But wait a minute...

I though Obama didn't even know the difference between strategy and tactics!

:rofl:

[City Lights]

5. He's close to blowing a gasket. When he does, I hope the cameras are rolling.

Recommended.

[greenman3610]

7. Obama is playing this guy

sophisticated psych out.

[TheDoorbellRang]

17. I totally agree

It seems like he's doing little jabs here and there in the "friendliest" way possible guaranteed to make McCain blow a gasket. It's fun to watch.

[lonestarnot]

8. My eggs are getting more rotten by the day!

:evilgrin:

[dana_b]

11. how is he (McNasty) going to reach out to both sides if he can't look the other side in the eye?

That's not leadership that we can count on!!

[TornadoTN]

12. My 78 year old grandmother called me and said the same thing!

I hate to say it, but she's a fundamentalist Christian (The apple does drop far from the tree, at least in my case) and tends to be so narrowly focused on specific issues in politics that its disturbing. But she called me the next day after the debate, knowing that I'm a huge Obama supporter, and told me that she was impressed by him and ashamed of McCain and then told me "how can he say he's a leader when he can't even give the other side any kind of respect, I'm just ashamed."

She won't vote Obama, although I'm still working on it. At this point, she's staying at home. My grandfather, a life-long Democrat, just smiles and keeps his opinions to himself. But one Sunday afternoon after lunch, he took me aside and pulled something out of his pocket. He showed me without saying a word - it was an Obama lapel pin and he grinned from ear to ear.

[DangerousRhythm]

24. That is SO cute...

High five your grandpa for me. :D

[ProSense]

25. That really is a good story.

:)

[Cha]

27. Thanks for that story..it made me smile.

I know how your grandfather feels..I can't wear Obama gear at work but I've got it pinned to backpack and when I wear my O shirt out on the street in this small town.. I almost feel surreptitious.

[ProSense]

14. Someone really needs to admit

that McCain should never have been elevated to a general election campaign.

He's unfit. He's here because the Republican primary was a circus.

[me b zola]

19. He's also unfit to be a Senator

After reading the Rolling Stone article I'm appalled that it took this long for the veil to be pulled back and reveal the incompetent jerk that John McCain is.

[FatDave]

22. You're absolutely right.

They had no good choices. Not a single rich man's fundie in the bunch.

[Basement Beat]

23. Obama should play as a Ned Flanders...

to McCain. Be the over the top, happy go lucky guy when in the senate/meetings with John. Just drive him nuts with kindness.

[quiet.american]

26. You know, I held off a long time in calling McCain mentally unstable, but no more.

I held off mostly because I call B.S. on anything put out by Bushco, and I still remember when they started a whispering campaign against McCain to suggest he was mentally unfit to be president.

Maybe that was utter horse-hockey then, but now, McCain makes the case against himself seemingly every day.