Ctrl-Alt-Del - McCain's campaign planning a major "Reboot"

[Drew Dowdell]

Fox news, Drudge Report, and Time Magazine are all reporting that McCain is planning on a major course change for his campaign. FiveThirtyEight.com has the analysis.

Something is a little bit funny when Matt Drudge is treating 1-2 point gains for McCain in the Rasmussen and Zogby tracking polls as "BREAKING" news. Naturally, Drudge ignores other results like the just-released ABC/WaPo poll that show Obama continuing to gain ground.

Drudge has a nose for news, and he knows that a one-point gain in a tracking poll is not news -- unless someone desperately wants it to be.

What the McCain campaign really, really doesn't want is for this move to be portrayed as desperate stunt. McCain has already developed a reputation for being a bit erratic under pressure -- the ABC/Post poll now shows that a 48-45 plurality of voters trust Obama to handle an "unexpected major crisis" -- and Bill Burton and Robert Gibbs must be foaming at the mouth waiting to spin something like this.

The only way for McCain to do that is for him to convince the media that he already had the momentum. The campaign will probably try and claim the moral highground, perhaps contrasting McCain's repudiation of the woman who called Obama an "Arab" on Friday against John Lewis's comments from Saturday. They will suggest that McCain found his voice, and made the "maverick" move of telling off the Beltway Republicans who were urging him to go for blood. They will suggest that the reboot is a continuation of this strategy, and that -- as the Zogby poll so obviously attests to! -- voters were already responding favorably to McCain's new tone.

It won't be an easy spin war for them to win. But they'd seem to have little left to lose, and if the media is reminded of the "old" McCain, they may tend to give his narrative the benefit of the doubt.

[longtooth]

McCain's new strategy: When in worry, when in doubt, run in circles, jump and shout.

It isn't as if every undecided voter will swing to McCain as a compass will 'twig' to Magnetic North.

Lately his bold pronouncements fall way short of the mark, i.e. ; 'I'm suspending my campaign in order to solve the financial crisis' (this promptly caused the negotiations regarding the $700 billion rescue to stall) or; My Friends I will insure your bank against loss as it pertains to your mortgage. You'll still be on the hook, but your bank will be protected'. That sort of bold initiative.

These remarks by McCain are primarily aimed at demographic groups that pundits are pleased to call the "WalMart* Moms" and "NASCAR Dads". The 25% of the Conservative base still loyal to President Bush. It is too little and too late, but many millions will watch the final debate and form their own opinions. Many opinions on both sides are already set in cement and most polls are showing that undecided voters are 'leaning' Obama. As long as people are talking Economy and are concerned with their rapidly dwindling fortunes, the sentiments favor the Democrats as McCain has become inextricably linked to Bush and the Neo-Conservatives.

[vonVeezelsnider]

I can't see how this will change anything but I'll be waiting to see what happens.

[CSpec]

Yeah, saying Obama palls around with terrorists is taking the high ground. Still, McCain has shown he isn't afraid to make bold moves, so it should be interesting to watch.

[Robert Hall]

I wonder if they will lauch new 'McCain 2.0' TV ads.. a New McCain for a New Era! He needs an image makeover...instead of an angry old white guy that should be out golfing, he needs to play up his military career and brand himself as a badazz action hero, in a Navy pilot uniform or something..

Anyhoo, did my by-mail voting over the weekend, looking forward to the last debate this week..should be entertaining.

Edited October 13, 2008 by moltar

[SoCalCTS]

Forget the reboot... He needs to just accept the inevitable and move on with his life. Why continue to get the right wing all worked up? He should start calming things down. Maybe he should kick Palin off the ticket.

[gm4life]

Palin isn't the problem it is the folks taking there economic problems solely out on Bush or McCain would be doing much better. Fun thing is in a FOX poll a clear majority thought less taxes and smaller goverment would help get us out of this and that was even said by democrats.

[siegen]

They can air campaign ads depicting McCain successfully operating a computer.

*Zing!*

[Drew Dowdell]

Palin isn't the problem it is the folks taking there economic problems solely out on Bush or McCain would be doing much better. Fun thing is in a FOX poll a clear majority thought less taxes and smaller goverment would help get us out of this and that was even said by democrats.

A clear majority of Fox News viewers are wrong.... imagine that!

The problem we're in isn't one of liquidity. Lowering taxes on failing corporations isn't going to help at all.

In fact, we need MORE government involvement. The current plan to back inter-bank loans seems to be a very sound one. But, and I know this is like a cheese grater on your spin, it requires substantial government involvement to pull it off.

[gm4life]

Why would you want more goverment? To criple an already hurt economy, oversight is one thing but we can't count on the goverment to pump the makrets full of money on demand. Good ol' fashioned capitalism got us here and will get us out. Trust me and less taxes for everyone is a win-win. Not cutting 95% percent of Americans taxes being as only 60-70 percent of us pay them the rest is just a hand-out to the poor and that is fair because? Oh wait the top 5 percent should pay more because that is patriotic. Seriously small and large compaines alike create jobs and taxing them more which is what Obama wants to do would kill any possiblity for economic growth. We do need more oversite but not goverment saving us. I personally believe I can better spend my money than the goverment can. So I make it clear you can vote for more taxes on everyone and the folks that take the risks and create jobs or vote for less taxes for everyone, and give everyone more money in there pocket encouraging buisness and spending. Say what you want but Obama's plans boarder on socialism with his economic plans to rob from the few rich to give to the many. A true Robin Hood thing but honestly the poor and to a lesser extend middle class get played because more for us less for them. Yup that is the right attitude.

[Drew Dowdell]

Why would you want more goverment? To criple an already hurt economy, oversight is one thing but we can't count on the goverment to pump the makrets full of money on demand. Good ol' fashioned capitalism got us here and will get us out. Trust me and less taxes for everyone is a win-win. Not cutting 95% percent of Americans taxes being as only 60-70 percent of us pay them the rest is just a hand-out to the poor and that is fair because? Oh wait the top 5 percent should pay more because that is patriotic. Seriously small and large compaines alike create jobs and taxing them more which is what Obama wants to do would kill any possiblity for economic growth. We do need more oversite but not goverment saving us. I personally believe I can better spend my money than the goverment can. So I make it clear you can vote for more taxes on everyone and the folks that take the risks and create jobs or vote for less taxes for everyone, and give everyone more money in there pocket encouraging buisness and spending. Say what you want but Obama's plans boarder on socialism with his economic plans to rob from the few rich to give to the many. A true Robin Hood thing but honestly the poor and to a lesser extend middle class get played because more for us less for them. Yup that is the right attitude.

You're not following. The problem we are in isn't lack of money. Repeat that 5 times out loud before continuing.

Our problem is lack of credit. There are healthy banks and unhealthy banks. Healthy banks have the capital the lend but aren't lending because they're afraid they won't get their money back. Unhealthy banks can't lend to anyone. In order for businesses to buy materials and inventory they are given credit lines by the banks. When the banks aren't lending, businesses aren't buying and aren't making payroll. Capital One just cut off dealer inventory financing for auto dealers in NY and NJ.

So, repeat 5 times out loud.

This is not a tax issue.

This is not a tax issue.

This is not a tax issue.

This is absolutely, positively, not a tax issue.

Please be more than a one trick pony. Lowering taxes does NOT solve every problem. We need government intervention to get these banks to loan money again. This is EXACTLY what exacerbated the Great Depression.

[gm4life]

I personally can get credit I have called my bank. I understand that but I don't see how pumping money into this stuff will make it better, because banks still aren't loaning like they should. I had said let it crash and go from the bottom and build it back up.

[Drew Dowdell]

I personally can get credit I have called my bank. I understand that but I don't see how pumping money into this stuff will make it better, because banks still aren't loaning like they should. I had said let it crash and go from the bottom and build it back up.

You can get a $750,000 line of credit to buy a bunch of Cobalts to sell?

This is a crisis of confidence. Banks have to be confident that they'll get their money back when they lend it out. What the government is doing is co-signing on these loans. It doesn't require any initial outlay of money by the government at all.

Allowing it to just continue to crash is about the worse possible option.

[gm4life]

And the goverment getting involved prolly ain't any better.

[longtooth]

You're not following. The problem we are in isn't lack of money. Repeat that 5 times out loud before continuing.

Our problem is lack of credit. There are healthy banks and unhealthy banks. Healthy banks have the capital the lend but aren't lending because they're afraid they won't get their money back. Unhealthy banks can't lend to anyone. In order for businesses to buy materials and inventory they are given credit lines by the banks. When the banks aren't lending, businesses aren't buying and aren't making payroll. Capital One just cut off dealer inventory financing for auto dealers in NY and NJ.

So, repeat 5 times out loud.

This is not a tax issue.

This is not a tax issue.

This is not a tax issue.

This is absolutely, positively, not a tax issue.

Please be more than a one trick pony. Lowering taxes does NOT solve every problem. We need government intervention to get these banks to loan money again. This is EXACTLY what exacerbated the Great Depression.

Most noteworthy is that those notorious credit-pimps, CapitalOne, has cut off financing. If they've become suddenly tight-*ssed with doling out $$$, some further tweaking is still needed to the credit market.

[Teh Ricer Civic!]

Please be more than a one trick pony. Lowering taxes does NOT solve every problem. We need government intervention to get these banks to loan money again. This is EXACTLY what exacerbated the Great Depression.

Sort of, its what got us into the Great Depression but trying to stabilize prices is equivalent to "price setting" which will just prolong this episode. Depending on the government intervention you are suggesting, it may be passive or it may actually have the unintended consequence of encouraging people to default.

Edited October 14, 2008 by Teh Ricer Civic!

[Drew Dowdell]

That new stump speech? Not so new aktually

God I love Jon Stewart.

[Robert Hall]

Hmm..so McCain is 'rebooting'.... I wonder if he's upgraded the OS from Windows 3.1 to Windows 95 now..

[siegen]

That new stump speech? Not so new aktually

God I love Jon Stewart.

And Republicans accuse Obama followers of eating up his speeches, this takes the cake. It's not so much that it isn't a new speech, but it was announced that it would be before, and it turns out that lots of, perhaps the majority, of the speech was copy and pasted directly from the original mccain_speech.doc (not by McCain though, obviously).

McCain has Obama right where he wants him, though.

But really, anybody who thinks that one party's followers are more over-the-top than the other, needs a reality check. The most devout followers of both parties are all blind and crazy.

[SoCalCTS]

Why would you want more goverment?

I don't want more government. Cut the military by 1/3, cut Homeland Security by 1/3 and take the number employees and transfer them to the FDA, EPA, SEC, NOAA, NASA, etc.

Edited October 15, 2008 by SoCalCTS

[siegen]

I don't want more government. Cut the military by 1/3, cut Homeland Security by 1/3 and take the number employees and transfer them to the FDA, EPA, SEC, NOAA, NASA, etc.

But then the terrorists will get us!!1

[FAPTurbo]

But then the Canadians will get us!!1

[Robert Hall]

I don't want more government. Cut the military by 1/3, cut Homeland Security by 1/3 and take the number employees and transfer them to the FDA, EPA, SEC, NOAA, NASA, etc.

We definitely need to beef up Homeland Security's role in NASA to protect us from alien invasions from across teh galaxy!

Though I worry more about Cyberdyne and Skynet.

[Satty]

Haven't you ever seen Signs? All we need to defeat the aliens is a fire truck.

[Robert Hall]

Haven't you ever seen Signs? All we need to defeat the aliens is a fire truck.

Well, those aliens...a computer virus can also delete aliens.

[Satty]

Thats why I run Norton. :AH-HA_wink:

[SoCalCTS]

Well, those aliens...a computer virus can also delete aliens.

There's evidence of aliens but no evidence of WMD's or a next terror attack. Its time to slash the military budgets, Halliburton, Blackwater, CIA black-projects, domestic spying and all of the other paranoid pork in the budget.