He'd be trampled by the Axelrod Chicago machine just like Clinton was. This election is going to be an exercise in who can hit the hardest and what sticks with the public.

film at eleven

Keep beatin' that dead horse. Unless, of course, by "Chicago Axelrod machine" you mean "remarkably effective Democratic campaign", in which case, welcome to the party.

I just hope that lady made it out of the town hall meeting and away from the GOPers in one piece.

better for them to try to manage the question on their own terms, rather than let the opposition draw it out.

Does anyone actually think he saw the ad before it went out on TV? Does anyone believe, even now that it's surrounded by controversy, he's seen it? He's talking out of his ass. His campaign are doing what they can for his benefit and he's given them license to go ahead without any oversight or approval.

This latest ad is, I'm guessing, just the beginning- I expect the mud to start slinging with full force as poll numbers slip.

Just remember that McCain doesn't necessarily speak for the McCain campaign. That's a fine recommendation for a would-be commander-in-chief.

"Is that what is worthy of the American people?", Senator Obama asks.

Actually it is, given

• the limited and feckless opposition to the illegal election of George Bush the first time
• his re-election (another close one), even though by then anyone should have seen what a power-hungry and incompetent individual he was, and the extent of vote suppression and mis-counting activities that went on in key states, like Ohio

However, Obama is appealing to the better angels of our nature. Will he be disappointed? We'll know by November 5th.

McCain denied the accusation. "All I can say is we’re proud of that commercial," he said. "We think Americans need to know that I believe that we should base this campaign on what we can do for Americans at home and how we can make Americans safe and prosperous and that's the theme of our campaign ... I'm proud of the campaign we've run."

OK then John, why don't you tell us what you're going to do for us at home and how you're going to make us safe and prosperous instead of running negative ad empty of fact and reason?

BTW - Paris says "Thanks" for your working to make sure that she can keep the whole load when the 'rents kick.

You just get dirty, and the pig likes it.

I'm wondering how the rest of the audience reacted to the lady's question and to McCain's response.

Maybe Obama really can overcome the scurrilous forms of hate that Rove seems to think are appropriate in an adult campaign.

Why do Rovian politics work in so much of America?

Everybody has one of those friends, relatives or co-workers that whines and whines and whines. You listen and listen and finally just get sick of it. You tell them to get over their whatever. You tell them to get some mental help. Take some medication.

For most of us, we are long past that point with McCain. He is long past gone mental. The question is, will the rest of America get sick of his whining too? Or, will they just buy this crap and believe it?

I actually have found a few Republicans who are tired of this. If I can find them in this reddest of the red states, then they are out there. Some are actually realizing that by just bitching all the time, McCain is actually giving control to Obama.

Let McCain whine. He is just throwing tomatoes at himself. He looks like an old fool while Obama looks more and more like a statesman.

Obama is playing McCain like a fiddle.

F**k the dumb old Son of a Bitch.

Are you on the drugs?

What part of 'kitchen sink' equals clean campaign? I was shocked Obama kept it clean after Clinton threw that at them.

McCain has gone negative early and often. It is obvious they are using their media dollars to the best effect they can - getting attack ads out there which the press can not resist airing and discussing endlessly. It is smart, it is effective but it is not a clean campaign. No one forced their hand.

If you're going to make that sort of assertion then you need to back it up with something or you just look like you are losing your grip on reality being so blinkered by your hate for Obama.

Does anyone actually think he saw the ad before it went out on TV? Does anyone believe, even now that it's surrounded by controversy, he's seen it?

Are you referring to McCain? Does "I'm John McCain, and I approved this message." ring a bell? If he hasn't seen it, why does he allow those words to be tagged on to the end?

Ok, B-list celebrity. How about Arnold Schwartzenfucker? Sonny Bono, he was a Republican too, no?

Under Bush Administration rules, John McCain is never permitted to admit having done anything wrong, ever. So he cannot back down from the commercial, now or ever. In fact, in order to justify the Hilton/Speers add (under Bush "double the bet" rules), the next commercial must be even more vindictive and superficial than this one was.

Which meant it will really be a beaut.

However, before we write off these tactics, recall how a Rove campaign works: Under Rove Rules, one must always attack the opponent in the most personal, hateful and supercilious manner possible. It is even better if the attacks are demonstratably false as that compels those on your own side to choose to either:

A. Disagree, which in a Republican Party that values loyalty to the party above all else, including God and Country, means being cut off of all employment and friendships forever.

or

B. Agree, which means that, having signed onto blatant lies, one can never go back and is, in order to save face, forced to agree with whatever is said forever. For example it is still forbidden for any Republican to publicly admit that Saddam had no part in the 9/11 attacks since to do so would contradict Dick Cheney.

And John McCain, having signed onto the Bush Administration Team, 100% will execute according to the Rove plan. And, given the lack of serious reporting or anything approaching critical examination of the facts on the part of our media, it will likely work.