Slog - Comments on Ayers, Coming Right Up http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up McCain essentially promises to bring up William Ayers in tomorrow night's debate, and says it's all because of Obama's "say it to my face" comments. “I was astonished to hear him say that he was surprised that I didn’t have the guts” to bring up Ayers, McCain said on KMOX, a St. Louis radio station. “I think he is probably ensured that it will come up this time.”... Copyright 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:00:31 -0800 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:27:38 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Fnarf Obama's going to dunk this one right in his face.

Walter Annenberg, big-time Republican and McCain supporter, gave Bill Ayers $50 MILLION for his foundation, the one that Obama served on the board of. So, John McCain, why do YOU accept the support of this terrorist?

Suck it, McCain. Go back home and rub some salve on your corrupted soul.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172299 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172299 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:10:54 -0800 Comment by Julie in Chicago Bring it on. It will give Obama a chance to address the issue clearly, and set the facts straight.

]]> Julie in Chicago http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172302 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172302 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:13:19 -0800 Comment by Gurldoggie Considering how well the Ayers thing is working out for McCain, I hope he brings it up repeatedly. In fact, I hope he never shuts up about it.

]]> Gurldoggie http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172304 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172304 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:14:24 -0800 Comment by drewl @1 Nice. I did not know that. I hope this turns into a free for all.

]]> drewl http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172310 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172310 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:19:40 -0800 Comment by Abby Of course Obama wants to ensure McCain brings it up. That's the point, right?

]]> Abby http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172312 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172312 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:20:48 -0800 Comment by apres_moi I hope McCain brings it up so Obama can bring up the Keating 5 scandal in front of McCain's face.

]]> apres_moi http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172323 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172323 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:25:19 -0800 Comment by kinaidos There's a couple of good lines for Obama to take, but I like: we coincidentally served on the same board for a while. Sen McCain's position seems to be that one should avoid doing good things (mention what the board accomplished) just becuase it means sitting down at a table with bad people. That's the sort of politics, the sort of diplomacy we've seen for the past eight years, and look where it's gotten us.

]]> kinaidos http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172331 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172331 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:29:40 -0800 Comment by ellarosa good. it's a dead horse--(for anyone w/a brain. john bailo types don't count). just keep kicking it, you nasty old man. kick it right in front of the person who can eloquently point out that not only is it dead, it's rotten.

]]> ellarosa http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172337 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172337 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:33:00 -0800 Comment by whatwhat Has John McCain ever explained his relationship with domestic terrorist G Gordon Liddy?

]]> whatwhat http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172348 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172348 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:44:07 -0800 Comment by keshmeshi He is ensured? No, no, grandpa. You're the one who drinks Ensure.

]]> keshmeshi http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172349 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172349 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:44:27 -0800 Comment by Big Sven I like how McCain turns Obama's actual argument, "don't put it in your ads if you're going to be polite to my face" into "go ahead, ask me about it."

fivethirtyeight.com is now saying there's a >50% chance of the election being an Obama blowout. First Goldwater, now McCain- what is it about Arizona presidential candidates?!?

]]> Big Sven http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172350 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172350 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:44:36 -0800 Comment by COMTE @6:

And while he's at it, maybe Obama can bring up McSame's offer to trade information to the North Vietnamese in exchange for medical treatment immediately after his capture.

Or perhaps Obama could mention McSame's more-than-just-business relationship with lobbyist Vicki Iseman.

Or, how about McSame's "palling around" with Watergate conspirator and convicted felon G. Gordon Liddy? Or his friendships with other convicted felons such as Jim Hensley, Raffaello Folieri, and Rick Renzi?

Or how about his cozy ties with racists like Richard Quinn, or nut-bag preachers like John Hagee and Ron Parsley?

Gee, this is a fun game!


]]> COMTE http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172356 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172356 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:52:46 -0800 Comment by elenchos Oh, right. As if a day and a half is enough time for Obama to write a killer comeback. Didn't he graduate at the bottom of his class? It isn't as if he's some Harvard-trained law professor who's good with words. This will catch him flatfooted...

Oh wait. It's the other way around, isn't it? It's the guy who was at the bottom of his class giving the clever one 36 hours to prepare for exactly what he is going to say against him. Huh.

At least he isn't telegraphing moves in Pakistan. That's Plalin's job.

]]> elenchos http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172357 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172357 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:56:46 -0800 Comment by Julie in Chicago Big Sven @11. I just attended a speech by Janet Napolitano (Arizona's Dem governor) and she had a funny bit about wanting to continue the tradition of losing Presidential candidates from Arizona (Goldwater, Bruce Babbitt, Mo Udall).

An even better part of her speech was about the true meaning of the word maverick -- apparently, to cattle ranchers in the west it means an unbranded cow. Which, really, is pretty funny when you think about how McCain has changed his views so many times on so many issues...

]]> Julie in Chicago http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172358 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172358 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:57:20 -0800 Comment by keshmeshi @12,

I'd rather he tell the story of McCain running and hiding below decks during the disaster on the Forrestal. Men braver than he died trying to save that ship.

]]> keshmeshi http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172362 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172362 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:01:36 -0800 Comment by Andrew Another thing that I always find amusing when McCain and Palin bring up Ayers is that after Ayers turned himself in, the charges were dropped due to /government/ wrongdoing. After 8 years of encroachment on or civil rights, another republican administration would make an Ayers conviction less likely

]]> Andrew http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172363 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172363 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:02:11 -0800 Comment by max solomon obama is playing mccain's hothead psychology perfectly. he basically called him a pussy to goad him into a huge tactical error. mccain's the one who's admitted he made an error in the keating affair - one he'll have to repeat on national television when obama hits back on the association game.

they'll waste the 90 mintues on this instead of, you know, the planet dying or something, but at least this one won't be boring.

]]> max solomon http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172368 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172368 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:09:24 -0800 Comment by kk Big Sven @11 nails it. McCain always wanted to be Goldwater's heir, but Goldwater gave him the brush-off, viewing him as a carpetbagger rather than a true Westerner. I guess McCain's now out to prove that he can lose even more spectacularly to Barry Obama than Barry Goldwater did to LBJ.

]]> kk http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172372 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172372 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:11:40 -0800 Comment by Beguine Man, way to take the bait, McCain. McCain loses (more) when he gets rude or dismissive or nasty. This issue is only going to cost him even more points than it already has when Obama's in a position to actually defend himself and give him back just a little of his own medicine.

]]> Beguine http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172383 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172383 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:25:58 -0800 Comment by flamingbanjo @17 nails it: McCain may not know much, but he knows when he's being called out. "Say it to my face" is like a matador waving his cape. McCain has to put his head down and charge now -- it's in his nature.

]]> flamingbanjo http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172386 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172386 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:27:44 -0800 Comment by stinkbug McCain has to put his head down and charge now

Well, he doesn't *have* to charge. He can restrain himself, but then part of his base gets mad at him for not charging. "lol"

]]> stinkbug http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172397 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172397 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:37:05 -0800 Comment by whatevernevermind John McCain wants everyone to believe that his role in the Keating Five -- a criminal conspiracty that cost the American taxpayers around $160 BILLION -- was a mistake that he regrets and repudiates and that he has since redeemed himself.

However, he also wants us to believe that none of that applies to Ayers, who actually has helped society since he put his criminal past behind him.

McCain is a coward and a liar who pretends to be a hero and a truth-teller. Now that Obama has made it impossible for McCain to avoid an on-air confrontation, McCain will look worse than ever and Obama will permanently seal his reputation as being 100% Presidential. Brilliant move, as always.

]]> whatevernevermind http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172407 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172407 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:48:54 -0800 Comment by gfrancie This is going to bite McCain so hard in the ass. But dang, Obama knows how to bait someone with a well-known history for being impulsive and hot-headed.

]]> gfrancie http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172415 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172415 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:53:20 -0800 Comment by bookworm Yeah, I'm not really afraid of this at all. Obama has shown he can take all kinds of shit -- the stupid stuff like this, the anti-Muslim/racist stuff, all of it -- and come out fine. I'm sure he and his folks have a great counter (or two or three) to this already planned out. My thinking has been that Obama has basically been slowly ramping up his snarky comebacks (look at the first debate, and then the second debate) and that this last debate will be his chance to really do what he does best -- bring something devastating to McCain, without being petty. At least that's my hope...

]]> bookworm http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172461 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172461 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:19:59 -0800 Comment by michael strangeways "Welcome to my Parlor," said the Spyder to the Embittered/POW/Maverick/Fly.

]]> michael strangeways http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172473 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172473 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:32:58 -0800 Comment by Just Sayin McCain's transition chief was a lobbyist for the Saddam Hussein regime.

Election concluded.

]]> Just Sayin http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172488 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172488 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:45:27 -0800 Comment by Tom Guilt by association, huh? Well in that case McCain must be a sadistic communist torturer. Ooo.. now that explains his support of Gitmo etc.

]]> Tom http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172490 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172490 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:46:43 -0800 Comment by Bryan Does this mean McCain is actually going to look at Obama during the debate this time?

]]> Bryan http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172541 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172541 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:23:20 -0800 Comment by Heh heh John McCain said "Ensure". Heh heh.
Ayers' name will come up. In fact, McCain can Depends on it. Heh heh.

]]> Heh heh http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172584 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172584 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:46:15 -0800 Comment by Vince The American people are showing signs of waking up to the long Republican nightmare. McCains throwing out canards may please his right wing morons, but it won't do anything more than ensure Obama wins. My fingers are crossed so hard they hurt.

]]> Vince http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172597 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172597 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:52:07 -0800 Comment by RHETT ORACLE Oh, if only Barack countered a spurious charge by McCain by saying: "Cut the bullshit, John, you're way off base."

Please, please, please let this happen.

]]> RHETT ORACLE http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172612 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1172612 2008 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:00:02 -0800 Comment by Miss Poppy Dixon I don't think McCain is going to do it. It would be suicide. He'll imitate Obama and call for reason, demand that Obama "stick to the issues that matter to the people," or some horses***.

He's painful to watch. It's as if his errors were choreographed. It's hard to believe it could all be accidental.

]]> Miss Poppy Dixon http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1173004 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/ayers_coming_right_up#c1173004 2008 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:27:38 -0800