Huck really ought to think about incorporating “Shazam” into his stump speeches.

It makes me wonder how many more people are familiar with Gomer Pyle than Captain Marvel?

Hannibal Smith on July 19, 2008 at 3:43 PM

I really wonder about that myself. I’m no McCain fan but he seemed to be enjoying himself somewhat..maybe he’s a really good actor. It’s hard to reconcile the genial good natured man he was in the clips above with the nasty backstabbing end runner he was in Congress. still fun to watch though.
That Condi slide was a nasty jab; they weren’t doing too bad up until then. They also blew it on Crist. George Hamilton would have been a funnier choice than Bob Barker; especially if they used the Bunny Wigglesworth character from Zorro, the Gay Blade. That was a bloody classic.

I can’t decide if McCain is legitimately genial and humorous, or if he’s just willing to put up with the undignified crap that modern campaigning has become.

Hannibal Smith on July 19, 2008 at 3:43 PM

Gotta go with freevillage on that… it’s a bit of both.

On one hand, the man clearly knows how serious the issues around this election are, and there’s no doubt an element of his knowing how much more personable and likeable he is in that sort of setting than Obama is, and a cold calculation.

On the other, the guy really does have a sense of humor, and has always been willing to poke fun of himself – he’s been a regular on the Daily Show for years, and that may wreak some unforeseen havoc on Obama’s youth turnout come November when the Chope Mantra is beginning to wear off.

Mac’s got a lot of faults, but he’s probably one of the few Congresscritters who really understands and appreciates a bit of self-referential humor, and the good PR it represents… Bill Clinton used to be able to do that, as did Bob Dole (who gained a following after a few appearances on the Daily Show as well… but only after the ’96 race was over), and Rudy Guliani (who beat the snot out of “Joe Pesci” on SNL years ago with a stickball bat).

It’s hard to imagine Obama or his staff getting together with Conan or any other TV comedy show — yes, even Jon Stewart — and going along with a pre-arranged skit to poke fun at himself (now, an Obama appearance on Letterman, Conan, Leno or with Stewart where he goes along with a pre-arranged skit to poke fun at McCain, its simple to visualize that happening and would be more surprising if it doesn’t happen before November).

Because a vast percentage of Americans would probably be fine with (or even more interested in) electing President via a reality-tv show with call-in voting.

Hannibal Smith on July 19, 2008 at 3:43 PM

Probably both.

freevillage on July 19, 2008 at 3:36 PM

Because it shows that McCain isn’t the “confused”, stodgy old fart the DNC and Obama campaign are trying to brand him as.