McCain's Strategy for Last Debate (My opinion)

[TommyDale]

True, Democrats are to blame for the financial meltdown started by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but the media isn’t reporting it and McCain isn’t being loud enough.

[hinckley buzzard]

I think republicans should stop asking rhetorical questions that no one will answer, and start providing answers themselves.

[DemonDeac]

The big thing is that he cannot let Obama off the hook time and time again this debate. If BHO leaves himself open, and he will, McCain has to seize the opportunity and throw a good punch. Make Obama defend.

And for god’s sakes don’t use the debate as a time to propose new $300 billion dollar “bailouts” or other entitlements.

[frog in a pot]

In his “Surrender is Not an Option”, John Bolton points out the Judge Bork confirmation hearing was a political process for the Democrats and a confirmation process for the Republicans; which is why they lost.

McCain needs to be clear about O’s record instead of seeming to extend “professional courtesy”.

Otherwise, we get Ayers as Sec of Education, BJ as Sec of State and Hilary as a Supreme.

[pburgh01]

Ok here is the debate winner.

Senator McCain your response: Senator Obama keeps telling you folks that he will institute a tax cut that would benefit 95% of all taxpayers correct? Well taking him at his word and that is not a given let's examine that. 40% of the Senator's 95% pay $0 in Federal income tax. So folks guess what they will getting checks for $1000. Now those of you in the other 55% who would be showered with Senator Obama’s munificence to get back you $1000 OWN money would and have another $1000 of your taxes paid just given to that 40%. So you can see it's a ponzi scheme, the same logic and lies that got us into this financial calamity. Liberal do gooders like Sentor Biden and Obama like to talk about fairness, is it fair to steal someone elses money to just give to someone else? See folks this is where Obama is playing the Washington shell game. Buying your support with other peoples money. I'd say let's keep the existing tax cuts in place, and look for a more equitable and fair tax system where we can all prosper and have the schools, roads and national defense that Americans expect. Senator Obama has a slick presentation but beyond the hollow socialist class warfare rhetoric what are we left with? Playing one American against another, a steelworker in Pennsylvania against a entrepreneur in San Francisco who runs a computer company. It's not the problem of the people making and creating the wealth in America, it's the meddling vampires in government and their corruption that allows markets to skew and greed and avarice to flourish and causing collapse like we have seen. My plan is to restructure the tax system, make it simpler, make it fairer, get government people out of the way like Ronald Reagan did and let's sit back and marvel and what we can accomplish. Britt, hope I answered your question.

[adorno]

He needs to watch the debates between Reagan and Carter. What sealed the deal for Reagan - he asked the American people a question - are you better off now?

The talking heads on TV and the political analysts of the debates are always lamenting the fact that, neither McCain nor Obama scored the equivalent of a knock-out punch with a memorable one liner, like Reagan did when he tagged Mondale with his one liner regarding "Mondale's youth and inexperience".

There are plenty of opportunities and plenty of material regarding Obama that McCain could use to score the knock-out punch. But, it doesn't have to be a one-liner.

McCain could, as an example, bring back into sharp focus, how inexperienced Obama is, and how radical Obama is, as witnessed by his past associations.

McCain's memorable lines should go after the huge lack of experience on Obama's part.

Perhaps McCain needs to go after Obama with something like the following:

My friends, my opponent sounds articulate, and he may be that. My friends, my opponent may sound to you like he's got the experience to lead. And, my friends, you may have been fooled by his personna and his ability to deliver a good speech.

But, my friends, after all of his memorization and preparation for a debate is done, and after he even convinces some of you through his rhetoric that he might be presidential material, one fact remains....

Preparation and memorization for debates don't change the fundamental fact that, Mr Obama hasn't increased his level of experience from when he first started running for the presidency some two years ago. His so-called experience comes from memorization and debate preparation, and from "running a campaign". After all is said and done, that's not actual or real experience. Whereas, from my part, I didn't have to "gain experience" by preparing for a debate, or from memorizing points for the debates. My experience is real, and it comes from my many years as a leader in the military, and in congress and in the senate. My legislative history as a leader is on the record, whereas Mr Obama's legislative history has been to follow others and to vote "present" on many bills in order to not ruffle any feathers. That's not leadership. My experience shows that I've been a leader all my life, and my leadership is real, and I don't have to learn "experience" by preparing for debates. My experience is extensive and real and speaks for itself". If you seek a real leader, one that is ready on day one to be president and commander-in-chief, then I'm your man. If you want to take a chance on a risky mission in the next four years with Mr Obama, then, he's your man.

[frog in a pot]

(on 2d cup now)

This is the pertinent question McCain should present:

“Will you be better off in the future?”

Then list the political activities in O’s record, his past and current proposals, his past friends and political associates.

Follow that with a number of careful predictions.

Then repeat the question.

That should sway any remaining independents

[ODDITHER]

He needs to get specific. Relate each of those incidents to the specific voters.
Obama says that 95% of Americans will get his tax cut. But what he is not telling you is what will hurt every family in America. He is not being honest with you and is banking on you not finding out.
1. He is going to repeal the Bush tax cut therefore raising taxes and every American that pays taxes.
2. About 47% of Americans pay taxes. The rest either get all of their taxes withheld back, or get all of the taxes withheld and as much as an additional 5400.00
3. He wants to repeal the tax credit for the rich and then redefine who is rich so more will pay at the top rate and then raise their taxes once more.
4. He thinks that Americans hate the rich as much as he does, and want to punish them. I know that most Americans just want everyone to pay their fair share.

Vy doing it his way he can be Robinhood and Santa Claus. Furst he will take more from the Rich the same from the middle class and he will give some of it to the middle class and some of it to the poor. Where I come from this is called Socialism.

I want all Americans to keep more of their hard earned dollars and unlike Obama I trust you to spend your money much more than I trust Washington. It has become a piggy bank for special interest groups to get more Democrats elected.
Acorn - you may have heard of their voter registration corruption but have you heard that the financial mess can be laid directly at their feet for forcing banks and mortgage lenders to give subprime loans to people who couldn’t afford them and then suing them when the bank tried to forclose.
Did you know that part of the first bailout plan proposed by the democrats had 500 million going ACORN
they might think we are stupid you and I and the rest of the voters but really pay the very people who helped cause this mess to help people stay in their homes that they can’t afford and don’t plan to pay to keep?

[sonic109]

Many of these suggested topics and statements are excellent. If we can think of all these talking points why can’t Mc Cain’s people do so .Who the hell is handling him anyway ? These things should have been pounded home 6 months ago , not at the last second.The LEFT is so far gone at this point that I doubt anything will change a mind out there. It’s Marxist brainwashing to the max.

[mysterio]

McCain should publicly ditch big government and embrace smaller, less intrusive government.

[sonic109]

I DARE Mc Cain to get the balls up to say that > I dare him. This should have been shouted from the rooftops day one !

I want all Americans to keep more of their hard earned dollars and unlike Obama I trust you to spend your money much more than I trust Washington. It has become a piggy bank for special interest groups to get more Democrats elected.
Acorn - you may have heard of their voter registration corruption but have you heard that the financial mess can be laid directly at their feet for forcing banks and mortgage lenders to give subprime loans to people who couldn’t afford them and then suing them when the bank tried to forclose.
Did you know that part of the first bailout plan proposed by the democrats had 500 million going ACORN
they might think we are stupid you and I and the rest of the voters but really pay the very people who helped cause this mess to help people stay in their homes that they can’t afford and don’t plan to pay to keep?

[budwiesest]

the meddling vampires in government and their corruption that allows markets to skew

Nice phrase. It actually sounds like something you could hear coming out of McCain.

At the last debate, "that one" blamed de-regulation for the market problems in his opening act- not half-way or at the end of the debate, but the first words out of his mouth.

This blatant lie was allowed to go unchecked as there were 80+ minutes left in the debate. In boxing it's called hitting below the belt and if done early, can often be overlooked in the interest of the fans who expect to get their money's worth by continuing into the remaining rounds.

A Chicago style, dirty fighter isn't what we need in the White House. There was a time when un-sportsman-like conduct carried shame and brought with it consequences greater than a 15 yard penalty.

Bestowing such an honor upon an ethically challanged street thug will tarnish the office and lessen respect for our institutions in a way similar to the reaction fans might have at a football game without referees. With the ensuing calamity taking place on the field, most fans will head for the exits.

Question: Who are our political referees? Answer: We are- it's up to each voter to decide when and to whom the flag gets thrown.

[Red Dog #1]

A much better approach would be to say that that Republicans (in a sad display of bipartisanship with the Dems) lost their way. They allowed goverment to grow too large and tinker with private business. Then ask, do you really believe you will be better of revisiting the failed policies of Jimmy Carter and LBJ or the success of President Reagan's polices that revitalized America.

[Mariebl]

If McCain can ask "are you better off now"

The worst possible thing he could do. All that's happening is blamed on Bush, and people buy the 'Bush = McCain' slogan.

[MarDav]

I posted on another thread the following question which the moderator, Bob Schieffer should ask. McCain should preface any comment about Obama’s questionable relationships and past with the basic gist of this question:

Mr. Obama, during the Vice-Presidential debate, your own running mate, Joe Biden, suggested in one of his answers about John McCain’s record that “the past is prologue.” He went on to discuss what he thought were telling instances of how John McCain’s own record on key issues indicate how he will likely perform as President of the United States. Yet, Mr. Obama, in recent days, you refuse to discuss your past relationships with William Ayers, Acorn, Tony Rezko. In the past you were unwilling to directly address the racist remarks of your former pastor until the situation pressured you to do so. Your brief and unclear record as both a community organizer and U.S. senator leave a knowledge gap in the voting public’s mind when it comes to “Who is Barack Obama, and what will he do as President of the United States?”
Mr. Obama, given that the “past is prologue,” and it is actions that speak far louder than words, don’t you think you owe it to the American people, including those who have already decided to vote for you, to give us all a fuller picture of your past, including (and maybe especially) your past relationships with the likes of Acorn, Ayers, Rezko and the like, so we can know exactly what to expect from an Obama presidency? “

[gost2]

To a non committed voter ... ie knownothings ... They are caught between the devil they know (McQueeg) and the devil they don’t know (Obammy).

We can direct our anger at our ‘own’ party. Well the one we hate the least anyway. The pubbies have handed us this situation on a platter.

Thanks for nothing you worthless DC pricks. May you go to your graves with the knowledge you destroyed the world. Its all going to come tumbling down now. The Boomers 50 years of peace and prosperity is crashing to an end thanks to greed avarice and extreme narcissism.

America is just another socialist collective on the planet now and the Chinese will own everything soon. They have this militaristic oligarchic piracy thing down pat and it works.

[gost2]

WOW. That’s a GREAT question. Don’t you wish you lived in a world where it could actually be asked by a Drive-by shill?

[Poincare]

Honestly, I don’t know ANYONE who can say they are now better off than four or eight years ago

The number is TWO years ago. TWO tears ago the Dems took over Congress and screwed up business investment tax planning which slowed the economy.

[frog in a pot]

In the world you and I would like to live in, a competent Bob Schieffer would indeed ask O such a well-framed question.

And, a equally competent political opponent would underscore such facts.

Unfortunately, it appears McCain has been seduced over the decades by what he believes should be the Senate culture.

As I said elsewhere:
“In ‘Surrender is Not an Option’, John Bolton points out the Judge Bork confirmation hearing was a political process for the Democrats and a confirmation process for the Republicans; which is why they lost.”