Open thread: McCain talks Palin on Leno
posted at 11:00 pm on November 11, 2008 by Allahpundit
11:35 ET on NBC. He’s “proud” and “grateful” that she was on the ticket, but as far as him rebuking the Africa/NAFTA smears, it sounds like this is as close we’re going to get:
Asked by Leno about griping about Palin from unidentified McCain operatives in the days following the election, the Arizona senator said, “These things happen in campaigns.
“I think I have at least a thousand, quote, top advisers,” he scoffed. “A top adviser said? I’ve never even heard of … a top adviser or high-ranking Republican official.”
However, McCain never directly addressed the embarrassing controversy over Palin’s expensive campaign wardrobe purchased by the Republican National Committee, or statements by unidentified McCain aides who have reportedly said she was not prepared on foreign policy.
Good enough?
Blowback
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*wtf*
McCain comes across as almost happy that he lost.
Ugly on November 12, 2008 at 12:09 AM
He makes it sound like it was some kind of cross-country vacation for him.
CanadianGuy on November 12, 2008 at 12:10 AM
So Camille Paglia, a leftist Democrat comes to Sarah Palin’s defence and John McCain… not so much.
Yeah, great!
sharrukin on November 12, 2008 at 12:11 AM
tough times…times are tough so fight, fight, fight!!! Just didn’t reach the folks Mac.
Ozark_sky on November 12, 2008 at 12:11 AM
If Palin were a man, I’ve often wondered if we would expect McCain to defend her/him, whatever. While it wouldn’t hurt my feelings for McCain to defend Palin, I think she handles herself just fine.
McCain kept a pace in the last week of the election that would make most young people collapse, and yet he did so with gusto. Seven states in one day!! I expect he didn’t want to think about the election for a few days, and so he probably missed the more ridiculous claims about Palin. He seems to genuinely respect and like her, and so even if he had seen the smears, he might simply have laughed them off because they are so ridiculous.
Palin said that she and McCain have been in contact, and if McCain judged her by her mood, and she didn’t seem terribly bothered by what was being said, then I doubt he would ride on his white steed to defend her.
He’s saying nice things about her, and not throwing her under the bus when the rest of the MSM seems obliged to do so. Palin is defending herself, and seems to bear no ill will toward McCain, even stating that they’ve been in contact, and that she loves him.
I don’t think he’s a bastard for letting her be a progressive woman that fights her own battles.
haikusrock on November 12, 2008 at 12:11 AM
Many think he just wanted to get the nomination to destroy the GOP by rebranding or losing in a landslide. I just think he sucks.
Valiant on November 12, 2008 at 12:12 AM
McCain holds an envelope up to his forehead and says:
“And the answer is: Tourniquet.”
(Tears open the envelope and reads:)
“And… the question … is:
When you are the town of Niquet, what should you do ??”
A new career awaits… with no fighting required.
profitsbeard on November 12, 2008 at 12:13 AM
there he is with the snow-machine Todd thing again.
Ozark_sky on November 12, 2008 at 12:14 AM
I’m not so upset over McCain not specifically defending her but at his aides for keeping Sarah under ‘lock and chain’ for the campaign and not unleashing her for the entire campaign. That was unforgiveable.
technopeasant on November 12, 2008 at 12:14 AM
CanadianGuy on November 12, 2008 at 12:10 AM
Valiant on November 12, 2008 at 12:12 AM
Makes one wonder.
Ugly on November 12, 2008 at 12:14 AM
If she was a man, the names of the slimers would be out by now.
Also, can we never hear the word “Maverick” again?
Valiant on November 12, 2008 at 12:15 AM
Did you bump your head real hard when you were a child?
Words mean things, words is how he lost the election. The right words at the right time and in the right order were never uttered by McCain. McCain should at least wonder who is doing the leaking and why.
Now do you get it?
Geochelone on November 12, 2008 at 12:15 AM
Agreed a thousand times over.
haikusrock on November 12, 2008 at 12:16 AM
You’re right, that’s legit, he was a lousy campaigner and took his base for granted too much and went on the offensive against the wrong people and went on the defensive against the people he should have been on the offense against. But I don’t see how the situation right now is his fault or what more he’s supposed to do to deflect it.
OneGyT on November 12, 2008 at 12:17 AM
Did we run Suckaroo and cries_spam off?
Valiant on November 12, 2008 at 12:17 AM
works for me. let’s move on. enough of john mccain.
conservative pilgrim on November 12, 2008 at 12:17 AM
I love Leno’s blithe, non-specific but certain assertion that “the polls say she hurt you.” What is the basis for that? Has anybody seen any polling data to support such an claim? From what I’ve read she was a slight net gain.
Dudley Smith on November 12, 2008 at 12:17 AM
Joking about the clothes. Classy.
Valiant on November 12, 2008 at 12:18 AM
Well I watched and I’m unimpressed. Maybe Palin should have told him she was a liberal/socialist Democrat then he would have railed against those smearing her until they were outed, tarred and feathered. Come to think of it, Macs record on who he defends/criticizes has me thinking these aides are liberal/moderate Republicans at best, hence the lack of desire in attacking them properly.
aikidoka on November 12, 2008 at 12:18 AM
What makes you think he’s not wondering that? And I appreciate your concern, but my mommy was very protective of my head.
OneGyT on November 12, 2008 at 12:19 AM
Sir Valiant: [to wise_man] It would seem your friend Juan McCoot is in distress. To the rescue. [pushes wise_man into the abyss]
Sir Valiant: [throws bag of wise_man talking points into the abyss] Yours, I believe.
PercyB on November 12, 2008 at 12:19 AM
It ain’t over yet. Still one segment of pain to endure.
Valiant on November 12, 2008 at 12:19 AM
This may sound wild but I think the Demos/MSM pushed/planned for McCain to win the nomination knowing he could be defeated by BHO or Hillary for that matter.
Ozark_sky on November 12, 2008 at 12:19 AM
McCain simply cannot say a bad word about anyone. All well & good, but when it comes to defending your VP pick, you’d think he could set aside the sugar and reach for the salt.
/sorry, I’m watching a DVR recording, so I was just behind y’all. Think I’m caught up now.
Ugly on November 12, 2008 at 12:21 AM
she was a total net gain. I heard she probably netted him about 5% extra in the final results.
ousoonerfan15 on November 12, 2008 at 12:21 AM
He was terrible during the election, and he’s even WORSE post-election—if that’s possible!!!
Delaware Vol on November 12, 2008 at 12:22 AM
Eh, I think more like if he does win, we can tolerate him more than someone who is more conservative.
aikidoka on November 12, 2008 at 12:22 AM
At least John Kerry had the decency to go back into obscurity after his debacle.
pedestrian on November 12, 2008 at 12:22 AM
I’m so glad he is at peace with all of this.
Valiant on November 12, 2008 at 12:23 AM
“Valiant on November 12, 2008 at 12:17 AM”
another fyi douche, you will NEVER “run me off” — some of us simply have a life outside of this site …
Buckaroo on November 12, 2008 at 12:23 AM
He doesnt think the press favored Obama? WTF?!
aikidoka on November 12, 2008 at 12:24 AM
A lot of people were saying during the primaries that McCain was being set up and that’s exactly what happened.
sharrukin on November 12, 2008 at 12:24 AM
Pop quiz: Sarah Palin or Tina Fey joke?
“My concern has been the atrocities there in Darfur and the relevance to me with that issue as we spoke about Africa and some of the countries there that were kind of the people succumbing to the dictators and the corruption of some collapsed governments on the continent, the relevance was Alaska’s investment in Darfur with some of our permanent fund dollars.”
benny shakar on November 12, 2008 at 12:24 AM
couldn’t even blast the press..
pmanley on November 12, 2008 at 12:24 AM
Ready to go again!
Valiant on November 12, 2008 at 12:25 AM
Oh, I think he was definitely the MSM favorite among the Rep possibilites, probably for that reason, “loveable loser”. Of course, Sarah Palin upped the ante. I think he was also a favorite among those “centrist” pseudo-conservative pundits who are now going around saying that we lost because we weren’t moderate enough.
I think politically McCain might have gotten too comfortable with losing, like a bad sports team. Sarah Palin I can tell hates losing.
ddrintn on November 12, 2008 at 12:27 AM
Next time around the Repubs must hire internet pros to run his campaign funding. Over ride the AVS and raise a bizillion bucks. Maybe then we can get to the White House.
Ozark_sky on November 12, 2008 at 12:27 AM
John McCain will undermine her every step of the way if she runs for President. How long do you think it will take before Obama is giving speeches saying that John McCain agrees with him.
McCain cared more about what the New York Times and MSNBC care about him then winning the Presidency.
Jdripper on November 12, 2008 at 12:28 AM
Thank you for your military service, senator.
It is now time for us to unite against Obama (if he ever does anything). Also, we’ll still have to fight McCain on his liberal tendencies.
I foresee McCain being a bigger problem for conservatives in the Senate than Kennedy and Clinton put together.
Valiant on November 12, 2008 at 12:28 AM
I’m guessing a Governor carrying out the duty to look out for the best interests of the people of her state. You know, what she took an oath to do.
sharrukin on November 12, 2008 at 12:28 AM
While we are asleep in this world, we are awake in another one.
Tav on November 12, 2008 at 12:29 AM
…GOD DAMNIT, McCAIN you glorious BASTARD!! Why didn’t you tell that story daily?
Why?
Oh well woulda coulda shoulda.
Ugly on November 12, 2008 at 12:30 AM
Stick a half dozen pauses, uhmm and uhhs in there and it will be unrivaled eloquence to an Obamaton.
aikidoka on November 12, 2008 at 12:30 AM
John McCain’s campaign was always a question in search of an answer.
Tav on November 12, 2008 at 12:32 AM
That is, when John McCain’s campaign wasn’t an answer in search of a question.
Tav on November 12, 2008 at 12:34 AM
You just cannot stop demeaning Palin and/or McCain in some pseudo-intellectual, this is just analysis manner, can you?
rlwo2008 on November 12, 2008 at 12:34 AM
Pop quiz: Obama or Yogi Berra?
I’m going to call in the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and give them a new mission, and that is to bring the war in Iraq to a close.
ddrintn on November 12, 2008 at 12:34 AM
Who’s watching Leno for serious political discourse? I wouldn’t even watch him for the jokes.
Anyway, screw McCain. We had to pretend to like the guy during one general election campaign, just because he was running against an unrepentant anti-American Marxist. Now that the campaign is over why don’t we just file him away in the washed-up RINO agitator folder and run a conservative against him in Arizona in a couple years?
Sign of the Dollar on November 12, 2008 at 12:34 AM
BRILLIANT!!
Stayed up way past my bedtime for nothing. Here’s hoping/praying we learned some important lesson and can come out and takem down in 2012. Unless, BHO reelects himself.
Ozark_sky on November 12, 2008 at 12:37 AM
We?
I’ve always liked McCain. Never had to pretend. Doesn’t mean I (or anyone else here) am pleased with him.
Ugly on November 12, 2008 at 12:37 AM
Yogi Berra: If I was President I would call in the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and give them a new mission, when they find a fork in the road in Iraq, take it.
Murphy9 on November 12, 2008 at 12:39 AM
Right, John, except the “top adviser” who smeared Palin wasn’t merely a top adviser, he was the guy who wrote your autobiographies and many of your speeches, Mark Salter.
PrestoPundit on November 12, 2008 at 12:40 AM
John McCain needs to go away. Respect his service, but what a dreadful candidate.
therightwinger on November 12, 2008 at 12:40 AM
“there things happen in campaigns”
They happen in all of the John McCain campaigns, for sure.
PrestoPundit on November 12, 2008 at 12:41 AM
McCain has one major flaw and he has had it almost his entire career…he is more concerned about being bipartisan and working with the opposition party then standing with his own party…prime examples are McCain/Feingold or McCain/Kennedy.
As Far as why he won the nomination Fred didn’t try Mitt, Rudy and Huckabee cancelled each other out…and in the Republican primaries it is winner take all unlike the Democrats that grant delegates based on the percentages
To be honest with the Campaign McCain ran he really had no chance
Kidd on November 12, 2008 at 12:41 AM
“these things happen in campaigns”
They happen in all of the John McCain campaigns, for sure.
PrestoPundit on November 12, 2008 at 12:41 AM
What makes you think that he IS wondering that? We will never know until he uses some WORDS. My Post was in the context of the WORDS McCain uses.
Millions of people are wondering what is up with McCain. Entire threads are devoted to the frustration caused by McCain acting counter to his own party.
We have to wait for the Leno show? Even then there was nothing comning out of his yap.
Geochelone on November 12, 2008 at 12:42 AM
John McCain would no more disown Mark Salter than his own grandmother .. but Sarah Palin? Under the bus.
PrestoPundit on November 12, 2008 at 12:44 AM
It’s funny. There is a serious lack of information on the latest updates for the Hope Diamond.
- The Cat
MirCat on November 12, 2008 at 12:44 AM
MirCat on November 12, 2008 at 12:44 AM
LOL score!
Ugly on November 12, 2008 at 12:48 AM
Is McCain claiming he’s never heard of MARK SALTER?
PrestoPundit on November 12, 2008 at 12:49 AM
“Ugly on November 12, 2008 at 12:48 AM”
but John’s giving interviews in cali — and Saracuda is giving interviews in AK …
/they were even more brilliant about it than we thought!
:-)
:-)
Buckaroo on November 12, 2008 at 12:50 AM
well he was the NYTimes endorsed candidate!
chasdal on November 12, 2008 at 12:50 AM
Don’t forget, the Media and the Democrats picked Sen. John McCain as the Republican nominee……………
……………… how nice of them.
Happy?
Seven Percent Solution on November 12, 2008 at 12:52 AM
What the hell is this? November Regression Awareness Month?
Are we all to reach down deep inside and admit that we were all traumatized as children when we saw Dad in his boxer shorts?
Limerick on November 12, 2008 at 12:53 AM
Funny………… all my posts with links to the failure of Sen. John McCain are either being reviewed or blocked……..
Oh, well, welcome to the world of “the One”……….
Seven Percent Solution on November 12, 2008 at 12:55 AM
I think a part of him was. How can you explain the energy and excitement he showed during the home stretch of the campaign, and his rather quick move to concede the race on election night. His internals must have shown that Obama was likely to win big. I think McCain honestly feels like Obama is some historic pick and that he will be good for the country.
I don’t believe in being gracious in defeat when your defeat means the nation will be threatened from within and without. But that’s what we get for giving McCain the nomination (even though crossover voters and fools at the RNC hold a lot of responsibility for that decision).
Sign of the Dollar on November 12, 2008 at 12:56 AM
It’s Enterprise and the Spock fella. I think he mind melded with Allah.
Limerick on November 12, 2008 at 12:57 AM
I am starting to think that McCain picked Sarah Palin not because of the appeal to the conservative base, but because she fought the Republicans in her state as McCain as done as his favorite sport in the Senate.
preciousbox on November 12, 2008 at 12:57 AM
My Friends,My Friends,Maverick.My Friends,My Friends,My Friends,My Friends,My Friends,My Friends,My Friends,My Friends,My Friends,Maverick.My Friends,Maverick.My Friends,My Friends,My Friends,My Friends,My Friends,My Friends,My Friends,Maverick.My Friends,My Friends,My Friends,My Friends,My Friends,My Friends,My Friends,Maverick.My Friends,My Friends,My Friends,My Friends,….
God bless America!!
-John McCain.
portlandon on November 12, 2008 at 12:57 AM
Buckaroo on November 12, 2008 at 12:50 AM
Anyone watching Joe?
Nah… didn’t think so.
=P
Ugly on November 12, 2008 at 12:58 AM
Yes the advanced software here at Hot air instantly scans all links that are posted; does a language and sentence structure analysis that determines if the destination page is anti-mccain or not. If it is, the post is eaten.
Or, the link url is too long to post in the comments.
Guess either is equally likely.
lorien1973 on November 12, 2008 at 12:59 AM
I think you are both right………….
Seven Percent Solution on November 12, 2008 at 1:02 AM
“Ugly on November 12, 2008 at 12:58 AM”
[rimshot]
Buckaroo on November 12, 2008 at 1:04 AM
McCain brought a dozen roses to a knife fight,
and told Sarah to leave her rifle at home.
silverfox on November 12, 2008 at 1:06 AM
I’m not watching and don’t plan to watch, but I’m guessing most of the interview went like this:
JAY: Hey, Sarah Palin’s really an upper Paleolithic hunter-gatherer, huh?
MAV: Well, heh heh.
AUDIENCE: LAFFS.
fiatboomer on November 12, 2008 at 1:08 AM
Given what’s going to happen with this economy, ummm, yeah. Obambi is going to be toast in a lot less than 4 years.
trigon on November 12, 2008 at 1:09 AM
Apparently, its true that Gov.Palin did have a speech ready for the conession night and she was refused by Mccain aides because it was not traditional. This Leno appearance is a paltry defense and a very insufficient explanation.
prosetech on November 12, 2008 at 1:14 AM
Its not that wild – back when Hillary looked to be a shoe in, any number of leftoids talked about voting for McCain alternately because he would be a weaker candidate or because he wasn’t that conservative.
18-1 on November 12, 2008 at 1:14 AM
fiatboomer on November 12, 2008 at 1:08 AM
Scary. You just about nailed it.
trigon on November 12, 2008 at 1:09 AM
I wonder if it’s worth the loss.
Ugly on November 12, 2008 at 1:15 AM
prosetech on November 12, 2008 at 1:14 AM
Could be (and may be) true…
Ugly on November 12, 2008 at 1:17 AM
I agree. I never heard calls for Kerry to defend Edwards about the stuff Shrum wrote in his book.
McCain put Palin where she is now. It’s up to her to make something of it. As for the allegations, she was being called stupid. A lot of people are willing to believe it. She has to prove it isn’t true. Having McCain defend her will just look like a defense- it won’t prove anything.
MayBee on November 12, 2008 at 1:20 AM
Meant to say the same thing (more or less) — but since your comment is already there…
albertpale on November 12, 2008 at 1:23 AM
I doubt John was at all happy about losing this election. Seeing him give his concession speech with tears in his eyes its hard to doubt it meant a hell of a lot to a man who’s country means a hell of a lot to him. Given that it is VETERANS DAY you think you guys could give him a break and stop bashing him for once.
Stop eating your own. We get enough flack from the lib’s, dems and media in this country we don’t need to start beating the crap out of each other to top it all off.
silentMajority on November 12, 2008 at 1:28 AM
james23 on November 11, 2008 at 11:32 PM
That’s something veterans should tell McCain.
It’s probably the only group that he would listen and accept criticism from.
McCain’s campaign can be summed up with one word:
Clothes
McCain and his staff cannot accomplish the most basic and simple task of buying clothes for a candidate without it turning into a national scandal well that’s just absolute incompetence.
In the Military the term is Lack of Confidence.
I have a Lack of Confidence in John McCain. Period.
It’s time for the Young Republicans to take up the good fight.
BDU-33 on November 12, 2008 at 1:29 AM
No, I don’t think so, and I’m disappointed (though not surprised) that we’re not likely to get any better out of him. I’ll always appreciate John McCain for having the courage to bring her forth, but I’m also more than ready to consign him to the irrelevance that he’s earned.
Kensington on November 12, 2008 at 1:32 AM
Really? Won’t prove a thing?
Like his belief in his VP?
Look, if he had reservations, now is not the time to let the MSM run wild (after the loss).. it’s bad sportsmanship.
Ugly on November 12, 2008 at 1:32 AM
He could still say all those stories are ridiculous.
He did once say during the elections that Palin doesn’t need him to defend her.
Phoenician on November 12, 2008 at 1:33 AM
I’m really mad at him.
Domino on November 12, 2008 at 1:38 AM
As far as I know, he wasn’t present at any of the reported incidences. He can only support her generally, which he did by picking her and by complimenting her throughout the election.
Come on. You want to tell me his heart didn’t sink when he watched the Katie Couric interviews? But he stood by her.
And now she has to prove herself.
MayBee on November 12, 2008 at 1:46 AM
As the
WorldHotAir TurnsLimerick on November 12, 2008 at 1:50 AM
I have to say. I’m glad the moron lost.
His loss is our gain. Palin…. 2012? Hard to predict.
Our loss is, well… see the ODS post for my comment.
Kini on November 12, 2008 at 2:06 AM
Honestly, I think we should leave it to her. These are ridiculous claims, and I would hate for an established figure like McCain to do any more than joke as he did on Leno.
To take it any further than Palin herself saying it’s absurd would be to give such claims credence. We don’t need to entertain the impossibly liberal media with this discussion.
For the sake of the party, and in my belief, subsequently, our country, let’s fight to move on.
bighead4 on November 12, 2008 at 2:09 AM
People have pushed the “Sarah Palin is an idiot” screed in numerous ways. One tactic is to attack Sarah on her “lack of education” (ahem), for which she is supposed to be a stupid bubble headed idiot.
You see, Sarah Palin went to several different Colleges, not just one. Sarah Palin took approximately six years to complete her education and earn her degree. That’s too long, you see. Sarah must be stupid since she did not earn her degree in four years, and since she went to unknown schools which people call “community colleges.” (By people, I mean, Sarah Palin critics/haters).
You see, they say, Barrack Obama went to Harvard! He’s smart? Sarah Palin did NOT go to Harvard. She’s dumb!
Furthermore, Barrack got his degree on time, Sarah did not. He is smart. She is not.
Funny.
By criticizing Sarah for taking more than four years to earn her degree, critics are trashing millions of black and Hispanic students, who tend to take longer to earn their degrees than Asians and Caucasians, having a longer entrance to graduate rate than Asians and Caucasians, and even a higher drop out rate than Asians and Caucasians.
So, Sarah Palin is dumber than Barrack because she took approximately six years to earn her degree, while Sarah is much smarter than many Black and Hispanic students who take as long or longer than Sarah did to earn their degrees, and Sarah is much, much smarter than many Black and Hispanic students who drop out of school.
Is that Right, “Sarah Palin is stupid” pimps?
Yeah! That’s what you are saying!
Another thing to consider is the fact that George W. Bush attended Harvard University, just like Obama did, AND George W. Bush attended Yale University, something Obama DIDN’T do, therefore George W. Bush is smarter than Obama.
In fact, George W. Bush actually flew fighter jets in the Texas Air National Guard, a daunting and dangerous task, something Barrack Obama did NOT do, therefore George W. Bush, by virtue of the Sarah Palin haters’ logic, must be smarter, and therefore more qualified than Barrack Obama.
Many citizens have never set foot in Harvard University, and many have taken several years to earn their degrees, but they are extremely well educated and extremely smart.
Many adults continue their education after their initial college years, extending their education throughout their lives.
I don’t see a reasonable argument in trashing Sarah Palin for the name of the college she attended, nor for how many years it took before she earned her degree. That does not necessarily tell us what her ability or abilities to serve in a leadership position is, or what the quality of her judgment is.
Sarah did very well in the campaign. Many in the populace would have done much worse.
William2006 on November 12, 2008 at 2:09 AM
Do the links have “cnn” in them?
MB4 on November 12, 2008 at 2:21 AM
I’m just in it for the Sarah.
http://glammachronicles.blogspot.com/
GinaE on November 12, 2008 at 2:33 AM
Who needs Romney when you got sad grandpa.
Way to go, maverick.
The Ugly American on November 12, 2008 at 2:50 AM
I COMPLETELY AGREE. This “we’re happy losers” thing is not believable.
S on November 12, 2008 at 3:22 AM
One remaining (big) question I have that remains unaddressed (by McCain, by any of his campaign), is:
McCain stated that he “guarantee(d) (he’d) win” this recent election, then repeated it.
So, what was the “guarantee” based upon? Was McCain was this out of touch with the actual Electoral College intents? Or was he suffering being misled?
Either way, disappointing, to put it mildly.
S on November 12, 2008 at 3:25 AM
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