McCain's Concession
By David Neiwert Tuesday Nov 04, 2008 9:31pm
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John McCain's concession speech was gracious and warm. A warm round of applause.
[H/t to Heather for the video.]
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If this was the John McCain that ran against Obama, then the race would have been much closer.
Obama still would have won, but it would have been a much closer race.
But. McCain would not be able to heal the rift that Bush has created. But Obama can. And WE can, too.
And Sarah Palin's look was one that she couldn't quite hide because she's used to slinging people under the bus and winning.
Being on stage with McCain could not have been pleasant, considering she slung McCain under the bus to pave the way for her own White House run in 2012.
Sarah Palin in 2012. THAT is my fondest dream. It would mean the GOP was still a narrow, hard-right party, and desperate enough to throw Palin at us again. I can think of no better development for the rest of the country than that woman at the top of the GOP ticket.
:<[) :<[) :<[) :<[) :<[) :<[)
My money is on the Republicans nominating 'Mittens' to run in 2012. I think McCain's losing will taint Palin's image, and her reputation amongst Republicans will plummet. So the Republicans will drop her like a sack of potatos.
I HOPE she runs and is nominated, because there is no way in hell she'd win...
Yeah, she's ignorant, loud, inarticulate and further right than John Birch. My GOP dream ticket.
... don't forget who has been president for the last eight years.
Still, I suspect you're right. My money is on her running in 2012 but not making it past the primaries.
She's an evil-spewer.
Sarah Palin's tears are sweet ambrosia to my soul.
It is a time to heal the rift and narrow the divide in America- [Deleted. Don't advocate violence at this site. Site Monitor]
Tasteless. I don't like Palin much either, but today of all days, I think we all need to tone down the rhetoric, let alone the kind of hateful comments you left here this evening.
I was being tasteless to emphasize a point.
Her sort of divisiveness and bigotry have no future in America. I have no problem being bigoted against ignorance and deceit.
But big-ups and taking the high road.
In 2012, Palin will be a 3-percenter in the national race. She might get the Steven's Senate position and that would guarantee that she's around for 6 years. Other than that, her days as a national figure are numbered. People know that she's not up to the task of national politics and never will be. There's plenty of good intelligent GOP people that will take over as front runners. Sarah can go on the talk circuit with Jesse Ventura. Dancing with the stars...
will hopefully be larger than her popular support.
Damn you iPod touch!!
Yes, and the other Republicans in the primary will eat her for breakfast if she dares run in 2012.
She got a big head from all the cheering fans at the little hate rallies, and from Billy Kristol gushing his infatuation all over her. And she got away with not letting certain embarrassing facts be revealed.
But there are savvy politicians in her own party, who would love the chance to throw her under the bus, and will do it with gusto, over and over again. Some from spite, of not being chosen by McCain this time around... some to save their party from the Wicked Witch of the North, and some just for the pure fun of it.
No question, she would be vetted by her own quite thoroughly in the 2012 primaries. They wouldn't treat her with kid gloves as Obama did, for his own good reasons. They'd rip her to shreds like a pack of starving hyenas.
I think McCain's speech was very gracious although I did have some trouble hearing it due to the loud noise in the room. The crowd? Audio problems? Oh, wait a minute. That was the sound of Joe the Plumber's "career" being sucked down the toilet.
Yes, McCain did the right thing and made a nice concession speech, but the crowd was as disgusting and rude as his crowds have been.
All I can say to them is SUCK IT, loooooosers!
Where was this John McCain for the last 20 months. What a gracious and well delivered speech. Damn, he might even be able to help us all out in the coming tough years.
If McCain had gone positive, rather than negative, and and been more centrist, rather than uber right wing, the election would have been *much* closer. If his speeches had been positive like this one, rather than hurling mud at Obama, the outcome of this election might have been different.
Mccain made the same mistake Bush sr did during his failed attempt to be re-elected, and that was alligning himself with the whackjob Christian fringe....
The radical right may be very vocal, but they do not represent the majority of the country.
:<[)
bitter and booing to the bitter end.
the way they have been the last few weeks.
..part of the proceedings. McCain's speech was pure class though.
His base of support is base.
I ran an errand after Obama's speech, and whatever wingnut is on WLS at that time was talking to some reporter in Phoenix at the McCain HQ. She said that the moment that McCain finished his speech the lights came on, tear-down started and all the monitors were turned off. She said they had to beg to get the feed of Obama's speech turned on, then they had to beg to get the sound on that turned up.
And I said to my son in the seat next to me, "Bitter, bitter, BITTER!!" As I said in a much earlier comment ob C&L, "Suck it up, wingnuts, the Reality-Train is chuggin' on through!"
Very happy to see Obama win the election and Mc Same be very cordial about his concession.... We actually stand a chance
After being thoroughly rejected by the American people, and coming on the heels of one of the most disrespectful and slanderous campaigns ever run, I really didnt gain any new respect for the man after this speech. His followers showed what a bunch of rubes they are booing every mention of Obama's name, and John standing there with his monotone speech said nothing inspiring about getting unity in this country for the betterment of us all.
It was formulaic crap lacking emotion or passion.
Goodbye John, and may we not hear anymore of Palin for at least 4 years.
What else exactly would you have wanted him to say? It was as gracious and uplifting as any concession speech I've ever heard. Even the crowd that booed every mention of Obama's name in the beginning seemed to be accepting McCain's message of unity.
It's a shame that we didn't see tonight's John McCain during the campaign.
He could have meant it. After all the things he said negative he could have conveyed a genuine message of stopping those booing his opponent and asking for unity.
That's what I would have wanted. But it's asking too much coming from a waffler like that who would sell his soul for the White House.
So he said all the right things, but still that wasn't enough for you. Did you want more from his body language? Was shaking his head, pushing away with his hands, and saying "No, no," not enough? What else could he have done?
Last night was, among other things, a repudiation of the politics of demonization. I think all of us,left and right, should pay heed to that message.
To me, actions speak much louder than words. He can't undo what he has already done over the last year or so.
His speech may sound okay to you, but I think his supporters got a different message. He fixated on the minority voters, and on Obama's ethnicity. He played up his "50 yrs" of service to the country, after putting his own ambitions ahead of country for the last year. He talked about coming together, after spending the last year attacking Obama's character and how supporting him would ruin the nation.
He still doesn't get it. Obama approached the campaign as if it was an audition for the job of president - and he proved himself. McCain saw the campaign as an annoying formality in the way of his coronation, and didn't seem to think he needed to prove his worthiness.
You're fucking right it wasnt enough, and I wont forget all his accusations so easily, nor was I convinced he meant a word of the speech someone wrote for him.
If you are that easily cowed thats your problem, not mine. I just want him to go away, and take his asshole supporters with him.
I saw in that speech a great American moment with a great American man. It's time to unite. People like odanny need to be ignored for a few years.
McCain is a good man and deserves recognition.
How then do you explain his campaign? The cornerstone of his campaign was a constant barrage of "Hate for Dummies": Obama's a Muslim, Obama's not an American, Obama's an uppity black man, Obama's a pedophile, he's a baby-killer, he's a terrorist, he's a socialist, ad naseum.
Would a "great American man" or even a "good man" allow this to be done in his name in the hope of getting elected? I guess we answer that question differently.
McCain and Palin are who need ignored, and their hateful, divisive message needs quarantined.
Yes, he deserves recognition, as a typical Republican fraud who is bad for the country and who sanctions the illegal invasion and occupation of a foreign country.
So go f&*k yourself
Credit where credit is due... he was gracious and actually reasonable.
I think by the end of his campaign, McCain had finally come to the realization that he was waaay over his head.
that he lost. Now he can pack Palin back off to Alaska, where her state citizens will be waiting to deal with her corrupt ass.
He certainly gained back some respect. But it paled in comparison to Obama's, which was just as gracious and ten times as grand.
You can't undo a years worth (or more) of being a arrogant prick with one nice speech. If he was the person many people genuinely liked in 2000 and even maybe in 2004, he would not have allowed his campaign to take the road it took. He sold out. End. Of. Story.
There's an old saying about reputation taking years to create and seconds to destroy. That's McCain.
Seriously.
Unfortunately, it was just about the only part of his behavior in this campaign that was.
God bless the United States and God help Barrack Obama.
I think the way to compare the two campaigns is expressed through the reactions of their audiences to their respective speeches.
Upon merely hearing the name of Barack Obama, McCain's audience turned angry and loudly booed and yelled. What was yelled was mercifully inaudible.
In contrast, Obama's crowd upon hearing the name of John McCain turned the other cheek and took the high road with a smattering of applause in acknowledgment of the other candidate.
Not bad for 70,000 people who supposedly hate America.
..security at the site of Barack's acceptance speech was a real concern, at least as late as Tuesday morning.
It just looked like love personified to me on CNN.
Well said!
Looking at the McCain/Palin rallys the last month or so, the crowd has been conditioned to boo whenever Obama's name (or actually ANY Democrat's name) is mentioned. You can't expect them to start using the "thinking" part of the brain so quickly. They may have to be deprogrammed.
You can't expect commenters on Crooks and Liars to restrain themselves from calling McCain names the next day.
I've judged McCain for his actions and his behavior. You seem willing to sweep everything that was said and done under the rug now that he's lost the contest and read a "nice" speech that someone wrote for him.
Over the last month or so, McCain sowed the seeds of hate and resentment in the GOP base. He gave them handfuls of "reasons" to hate Obama - all of them false. It will make it that much harder to heal the divisions that exist.
I agree that if McCain had talked like this during the campaign, things would have been much tighter. Notice how consistent in tone and message Obama remained in his acceptance speech compared to the stark difference in tone from McCain. This fractured multiple personality of McCain is what has a lot of thinking moderate Republicans supporting Obama, and concerned about McCains consistency and temperament.
Let the healing begin. I can feel in me the weight of 8 years of anger, anxiety, frustration, fear and loathing starting to lessen.
McCain's speech was gracious but I think it was an attempt to do penance for running such a slimy campaign. The true soul of the Republican party was reflected in the booing from the audience.
McCain's got a long way to go before he starts salvaging his honor in my eyes. Now that he's given the gracious speech he had to give, let him direct that famous temper at anyone who continues the disgraceful behavior of some of the people in his audiences. *That* would impress me.
My guess is he's too tired and beaten, not to mention discredited, to put much energy into healing the wounds. He'll plod through the rest of his Senate term and fade away.
Hopefully he'll continue this path of graciousness and not act like a sore loser when back in the senate.
I was pleasantly surprised by McCain's speech. I'm also glad that Palin did not speak. I'm immensely gratified that Palin, in particular, has been denied her prize.
Today was a real step in the right direction, the first in a very long time.
But now, we have an insatiable corporate-military empire to reign in, a mass-incarceration industry to deconstruct, and enormous challenges in energy and economy that rely not on exploitation but on productivity.
That will be the real sea-change. Now it is possible. Now it is time to get to work.
The booing and catcalls of McCain's auidence reveled what vermin they are..
When obama mentioned mcCain, Obama's audeince applauded- they didn't boo...
McCain's speech was nice...but good riddance to him...
So long old yellow tooth....
Come on, do you honestly believe that if McCain had won the supporters of Obama wouldn't boo the mention of his name shortly after learning the race was over? Have you watched home video of Obama supporters booing McCain as they watch his concession speech unfold? The man handled it with class, and some of you are fooling yourselves to think Obama supporters would have behaved any differently in the same circumstances.
Regardless of how you feel about the man, it was the best concession speech in my lifetime. Lay down your prejudices, and one might even say the loser graced us with inspiration.
Much better than McCain during the campaign. Obama made it very clear by his words and body language he did not want to hear boos. I saw no boos as Obama supporters watched McCain's concession speech. Where is this home video?
McCain's speech was his best of the campaign. Where was this gracious McCain during the campaign? He seemed more natural delivering this speech than flinging the mud during the campaign. Methinks we were seeing the real McCain last night. If so, it goes to show that "handlers" spoil a candidate by trying to mold him. As for prejudices, I think we saw much more from McCain supporters who booed Obama, held up monkey dolls, used subtle (and not so subtle) racial code words all through the campaign. And lest we forget: there was even an assassination plot on Obama. McCain's legacy was not one to be proud of.
He started using the line "you don't have to boo, just vote". He repeatedly said that he honored McCains service to the country. He wasn't afraid to admit he agreed with McCain on several issues, and he gave McCain credit for some of the things he has accomplished over the years.
Obama showed class *throughout* the campaign, not just at the end.
If Obama had run a horrible campaign, and McCain had run an honorable one, and the polls showed McCain ahead for the last month, then YES I think the Obama supporters would have been more gracious in defeat that McCains' were.
The bottom line is that McCain relied almost exclusively on personal attacks. The McCainiacs were fed a constant diet of "Hate for Dummies": he's a Muslim, he's an African, he's a pedophile, he's a baby-killer, he's a terrorist, he's a socialist. It's hardly surprising how they reacted in defeat.
Check it out. What a bunch of assholes. The message they're trying to get across is unmistakeable. And the picture could not be more unflattering.
I dislike those people.
I saw that earlier:
The "Change has come to America" picture, but I didn't even notice every single person is black. I guess that's the difference between a liberal and the others. I just saw people.
Yes, it is a (not so subtle)"subtle" message for FUX readers.
I thought that it was a sincere and beautiful speech.
Part of me wants to believe that this is what he wanted. If he really is "Country First," and intelligent, then he must have realized that a continuation of the morally bankrupt rethuglican rule could put the final nails in the coffin of the US as it should be. So he got a psycho running mate, said stupid things, flip flopped, did stupid things. Things that, at any other time, with any other MSM would have killed the campaign in a heartbeat. If PE Obama had done 0.1% of the crap McCain had done, he'd been a footnote in history as the first AA Presidential candidate. Kerry got nuked for changing his mind once. McC flopped 3 time in one week. Edwards got it in the neck for a hair cut. McC... well, he doesn't have much hair. Al Gore took major damage for "creating the internet," but McC invented the blackberry. Ad nauseum.
This is beyond incompetence.
He took one for the country.
(I hope)
EPN
and I'll agree that it was a good speech. I just don't think the fact that McCain read it somehow makes up for all the hate and vitriol that his campaign spewed over the last year. And I found his focus on Obama's ethnicity and the repeated stressing of the minority vote a bit disturbing. I'm willing to concede that perhaps his sense of duty made him read it, but I don't think he really meant it.
I think it's really quite simple: McCain sold his soul and his reputation for a shot at the presidency. I think he really believed that it was "his turn". I for one am not willing to give him a "do-over". We have all had to live with the consequences of GOP decisions for the last 8 years. McCain should have to live with the consequences of his choices.
Contrast their booing when McCain mentioned Obama and Biden with Obama's supporters' cheering when Obama mentioned and praised McCain. McCain was gracious tonight, but he bears great responsibility for those boos, and for the hate, the ugliness, and the despicable name-calling that he took part in (for example, calling Obama a "socialist") and which he allowed Sarah Palin and his campaign spokespeople and supporters to unleash without barely uttering a peep. It's going to take more than one speech by McCain to heal those wounds and to help heal the country.
and fuck mccain for letting that shit go on this long.
I'm impressed at the bipartisan tone of McCain's comments and wish him well. I'm so glad that Senator Barack Obama is now the President-Elect, but can't help but feel good will towards John McCain for his exit speech. You should all keep in mind that this is his swan song. He will never run again. It was a big deal for him. Let's give him credit for it and move on.
Screw you McCain, you ass. I hope you and your fellow prisoners have a great time
writing your memoirs. Did I say that you are still an asshat? Go home and have a nap and please don't bother us again! Asshat.
proves that most Republicans are un-American cry babies. They will abandon their country b/c they didn't get their way. Talk about cut and runners.
but his supporters were complete Dicks.
Which one is the face of a real republican?
This was the McCain that people wanted. It seemed that he was so intent on winning that he abandoned the mindset that was capable of gracious and honorable moments like this. If he and his campaign had conducted themselves with the kind of integrity and discipline that his concession speech was imbued with, this would have been a much tighter race.
He may have played dirty, but he was indeed gracious and conciliatory in defeat. Thank you for giving us a glimpse of the John McCain that people use to look up to.
As for Palin: I hope your 15 minutes are up, you hateful ignorant entitled shithead.
McCain took the high road. He seemed tired, and humbled. I agree with above posts. He would have fared much better if he let this side of himself show. I wish he could have promised Sarah Palin would be on the first flight to Alaska. We need to put this behind us and get back to being the UNITED States of America. We are all pro-American, and this election proved it.
he should have quelled the racist bastards earlier in the campaign.
He knew better.
that's why he chose palin and campaigned like a rovian dickhead. he did a hateful republican's wishlist during his campaign and left Palin the Bimbette as the presumed frontrunner for 2012.
luv it! :<[)
It explains everything!
And to think that early accounts hinted that Rove (the Karl) personally hand-picked Palin to be McCain's running mate.
in a very real, large measure a national exorcism -- of Sarah Palin. This woman, whatever her arguable redeeming attributes and skills, is so clearly unfit to serve as next in line to the presidency, that her totally transparent ambition and arrogant ego became perhaps the tipping point factor in John McCain's incinerating loss.
Think about it. How much time and energy did he have to waste defending this bizarre choice, to the deafening exclusion of every other argument?
If McCain had chosen somebody other than Palin, this race wouldn't have been such a blowout. I understand some of the short-term advantages the McCain campaign perceived in in making this choice -- maybe thinking they could pick up the Hilary voting block -- but in the long-term...Palin? Really?
A kee-jerk choice with no vetting process, they got exactly what they deserved. I for one am thankful because it made the Obama campaign's job that much easier.
She truly is the definition of the Ugly American.
The choice of Palin made things much easier for Barack. It made a totally obvious mockery of his "Country First" slogan. Good riddance to the Palins.
President-elect Barack Obama. I will sleep much better tonight.
Spot on!
Classy speach, not so classy crowd. Where was this guy during the campaign? Good thing he was hijacked by the right or we could have really had a closer election.
One other thing of note, Sarah, you can start eating again!
ending on a high note is a good thing. having said that i'm still very disappointed in mccain and his
campaign people. they were both dirty and deceptive.
Not on a level with Libby Dole's campaign, mind you, but still inept, negative and just plain dumb.
Sarah Palin-- lol
Dumb enough to lose, and let's face it, that's all that matters today.
is franken going to pull it off?
what a bunch of thugs. Contrast that with the Obama crowd when he spoke of McCain. Cheers all around.
that nutjob crowd makes mew think someone will try to assassinate obama before long...bunch of haters.
I didn't expect McCain to concede before the election, but I also didn't think he'd spend the last month throwing slur after slur at Obama. It became painfully obvious that McCain's campaign was going to rely on fear and hate to try and pull out a victory.
It didn't work, but I fear that they've opened a Pandora's box. The hate that they stirred up won't go away quickly. We've already heard about 2 (luckily) half-baked plots against Obama. I recall the fatal shootings at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in July. In a letter, the gunman said that he believed
The McCain campaign spread the last month claiming that an Obama victory would do just that: ruin the country, lose the war in Iraq, support abortion and gay marriage, and turn the US into some kind of unrecognizable Muslim socialist welfare state.
I can only hope that no-one decides to take things into their own hands.
Living abroad with Bush as president has been an embarrassment. It's nice to know that we can start being proud of who we have elected as our leader. I'm sure that President Obama will turn around that negativity quickly. He is what not only the U.S. needs at this time but also represents the change that the world was hoping to see as well. Congratulations President Obama!
He was gracious and seemingly sincere. I give him full credit for that. However, I reserve my reaction until I see him acting on his words. If he does, maybe he can atone for the utter sleaze of his campaign to date.
Yup, talk is cheap, especially when you've been thoroughly humbled by your opponent. I'm not sure he even gets that he has any atoning to do. We'll see.
McCain's speech=classy...reactions of his supporters=classless pos's like they always have been:)
This is the McCain we remember.
fire the US attorney from colorado who thought assassination plots by meth-heads carrying scope-mounted rifles were some fucking lark and not worth prosecuting.
he must be the first to go.
starting with justice
Although i heard it was good i was at work and missed both speeches and i want to hear Obama's!
..of happiness.
Nov. 4: In his acceptance speech in Chicago's Grant Park, Sen. Barack Obama challenged the crowd of more than 160,000 people, saying, "if there's anybody out there who still questions ... the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27546...
Exceptionally dignified and gracious speech.
Oh, bye, bye Sarah McCun*! Don't let the door hit you in the behind on your way back to redneck city.
I thought the McCain crowd looked like frightened children that didn't know what to do now. In general, the Republicans showed themselve to be mean-spirited and small-minded throughout this race. As much as Brit Hume wants to blame the economy, they only have themselves to blame for their failure. I want to hope that they can rise above their hubris, but I think it's a long shot.
After being told by McCain that Obama was a Muslim, a terrorist, a Socialist a Marxist and ate children and BELIEVED him what did you expect?
Showing the parties happening around the US :D
Nov. 4: In his acceptance speech in Chicago's Grant Park, Sen. Barack Obama challenged the crowd of more than 160,000 people, saying, "if there's anybody out there who still questions ... the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."
The long nightmare is over. The long night we feared did not come to pass.We got the diebolt-proof victory we needed. Mccain was gracious,as was Obama. NOW. Now it's time to govern and use the mandate handed Him. In his victory speech we saw and heard a resolute,yet humbled Brack Obama-you could read his face to that fact.But,you also heard and saw his blueprint of how he will have to govern.The tears of joy have been shed. Now. let's lead America and The world into the 21st century. Hard work ahead. Roll up your sleeves America. Let's get to work.
:<[)
I am!
back at you,bro.
been one to gloat. Perhaps,you misunderstand me. I cheered and howled as each state went up. I ran up my brand new flag over my motel,as I said I would. BUT. Reality is now. Time to change 30 years of pestilence. It won't be easy.
mccain didn't have much FUN the last 3-5 months. too much deception mccain struggled with that. i do
NOT believe mccain ever did want or maybe even like PALIN.
OT Hey! Massachusetts voters approved Question 2, which eliminated criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of cannabis (an ounce or under).
I bet they're feeling high and mighty tonight!
That was funny, man!
Especially the high part
DOn't you!!
:<[)