McCain challenges Obama to join him in 10 town hall meetings

Thursday 05th June, 12:40 PM JST

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Madverts at 12:05 AM JST - 6th June

" Mr. McCain has hinted that he'd only be a one-term president."

Isn't that a little pointless?

Perhaps these hints are a nod to the concerns over his age afterall. Have other candidates ever presented themselves in the history of the US with what seems to me, a defeatist attitude of just serving one term?
RomeoRamenII at 12:08 AM JST - 6th June

verts,

Didn't LBJ saying the same thing in 1967?

RR
RomeoRamenII at 12:08 AM JST - 6th June

read that say

RR
Madverts at 12:21 AM JST - 6th June

I think the radical left and the radical right get in a flap when Obama speaks.

The rest of us just listen and analize....
ca1ic0cat at 02:37 AM JST - 6th June

I'm not sure this conversation got to where it did but I think that the idea of a series of small debates is a great idea and I hope they do it. Those "big TV" debates are boring and scripted to the point that I don't watch them much. The sound bites on the news are just editorialized pablum. A real exchange without prepared questions would be delightful.
adaydream at 04:12 AM JST - 6th June

if he were applying for a U.S. government GS-4 job, wouldn't pass the initial security background check.

I love it. Elections seem to bring out the best in some people. It also brings out the hate mongering, lies, inuendoes and far reaching imaginations from others.

I've been waiting for the democratic nominee to be selected. It gives people on the far right something to do and a purpose to their lives.

I can't wait till the debates start between Obama and McCain. < :-)
SuperLib at 04:17 AM JST - 6th June

I see the 'America is superior' attitude coming out again.... that's partly what gets your country into so much trouble.

Nowadays when foreigners start talking about their country I brush it aside and tell them that their country is irrelevant. Instead we talk about what it means to be a patriotic American and their desire to show solidarity with real Americans. Naturally we discuss Obama vs. McCain since it takes priority over any elections in their home country. When discussing Iraq I'm careful to remind them that their decisions should always make US soldiers their top priority.

Did you have a problem with that?
shimajiro at 06:37 AM JST - 6th June

Certainly Mcain's should be comfortable with the free-wheeling format after the months he's logged on the Straigh Talk Express. Obama and/or his campaign seem to prefer a more stage-managed presence. In any case, McCain is right to want to try to find ways to mix things up - he's trailing - and try to influence the conditions under which he and Obama debate. Obama risks looking bad if he declines and getting caught in a a conservative/defensive posture where he's trying to avoid making mistakes. I think that hurt HRC early in her primary campaign.
yabits at 08:43 AM JST - 6th June

WhiteHawk:

That and his 3 years of non-votes as a freshman Senator qualifies him to lead the U.S.?

LOL!! Who missed the MOST votes? John McCain. According to the Washington Post's congressional votes database: "As of today, Obama has missed slightly fewer than 40 percent of his Senate votes since the beginning of 2007, while Clinton’s absentee rate is just under 30 percent. But McCain has topped both candidates, missing a staggering 58 percent of his votes during the 110th Congress..."

Yes, folks, a staggering 58 percent. Must be hell living in that glass house.

Back in 2000, you weren't complaining about the "inexperience" a certain two-term governor of a state bordering a foreign nation, were you?

Now that's a hoot. The Texas governorship is largely a ceremonial position. The real power is in the legislature, and they only meet for a few months EVERY OTHER year. Gee, sounds like a job little George could handle. (He sure didn't do well in the oil business.)
Loki520 at 03:59 PM JST - 6th June

Sushi - "Biggest problem here is that Sen. McCain has not, will not and can not articulate what that "victory" is, what it might look like, and when it might be achieved"

I know what you mean. It's not like he put a blurb on his public website that defines victory in that arena. Oh, wait a minute. HE DID. Right under ISSUES / IRAQ:

"The best way to secure long-term peace and security is to establish a stable, prosperous, and democratic state in Iraq that poses no threat to its neighbors and contributes to the defeat of terrorists. When Iraqi forces can safeguard their own country, American troops can return home."

Let's see... Stable, prosperious and democratic state. Poses no threat. Iraqi forces, both military and police, can safeguard their own country. THEN our troops can return home. Stable Government. Ability to provide security for their citizens.

Anything else you'd like him to define? He spills it all out on his very public website. It's not a secret...
Taka313 at 08:10 PM JST - 6th June

Yabits, I felt that beat down through the internets tubes!

Taka
Sarge at 09:51 PM JST - 6th June

So McCain missed 58% of his Senate votes! LOL! Well, at least he's voted with the Democrat Party only 11.7% of the time, while Obama's voted with the Democrat Party a staggering 96.5% of the time! xD
Blue_Tiger at 11:53 PM JST - 6th June

I say "Why not?" Why not meet and debate civilly in front of people at town hall style meetings and locations? It can only help both of them to be seen as personable in such a way....
WhiteHawk at 11:58 PM JST - 6th June

yabits:

LOL!! Who missed the MOST votes? John McCain.

While I'm not the biggest McCain fan, I will say in his defense that he's had more than one term as Senator (He took office in 1987. Since you've got the figures handy, what's his overall percentage? And how many of Obama's votes were merely voting "present"?), and he has more background and experience than just being a Senator. For Obama, that's all he has. Nothing else. No service history, no private sector experience, no executive experience (more on that in a moment), nothing but hope and change. Change he still refuses to define.

The Texas governorship is largely a ceremonial position.

Really? You've been a state governor, then? You obviously haven't even paid much attention to governors. Or maybe you consider the Texas governship largely ceremonial, but the Arkansas governorship vital (except when connected to banking and real estate scandals)?

Seriously, you've just floored me with that claim. The audacity is staggering.
yabits at 12:44 AM JST - 7th June

Really? You've been a state governor, then? You obviously haven't even paid much attention to governors.

No, WhiteHawk, it is you who are displaying ignorance here. As governors go, Texas' one is less powerful by design than most of the other states. Simple research would reveal that to you. You can start at the link below:

http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=187648

That way, you won't be floored when someone presents you with basic facts. It is only audacious because it's hot air from folks like you that have supplied "ex-fighter-jock" (LOL!) GWB with most of his lift.

but the Arkansas governorship vital

The Arkansas governor is only marginally more powerful than Texas, and both states still only meet for work every other year for 60 to 90 days. You want to present the governor of Texas like he or she is some CEO when, in fact, it's largely a figurehead position.

No service history, no private sector experience, no executive experience (more on that in a moment), nothing but hope and change.

McCain doesn't have private sector experience either. And I wouldn't go tooting the horn on Bush's private sector failures. McCain has been on the government dole all of his life. However, lobbyists seem to like him.

I put a lot of stock in intelligence, wisdom, competence, and the genuine desire to serve the public. Obama has just won a masterful campaign against an opponent who was heavily favored when the thing started. He's attracted a ton of money in small donations, and that's not chopped liver. McCain's higly unwise little "bomb bomb Iran" ditty disqualifies him in my book from any position where tact and diplomacy are required.