Could McCain Take Obama Back To School?

Dan McLaughlin, the Baseball Crank, adds to the list of a great ideas that will never happen:

An idea; a proposal: John McCain should challenge Barack Obama to a week-long set of town-hall debates (say, 4-5 of them) on college campuses when the college kids go back to school in late August/early September. Such debates could be concentrated specifically in the Big Ten schools (Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio St) and other swing-state universities (U. Missouri) that can produce huge audiences in close proximity to where the candidates will already be campaigning. I'm sure MTV could be lined up to host the debates in as wide-open a format, with no pre-screening of the audience, as possible.

Dan thinks McCain will do well before such an audience; I agree.  McCain rocked the house at Villanova on Hardball.  Being a genuine American hero counts for something, even on a college campus.

Left unmentioned by the Baseball Guy - even granting that the crowds will love him, does Obama really benefit from video of adoring college kids cheering for him?  How many middle-aged working class votes will that swing?  Sorry, swing to Obama?

Well, it will never happen - Team Obama will see the non-upside and find a reason to duck this.  Take away his teleprompter and Obama's afraid.  Whatever.

MORE:  Hmm, I had thoughts on McCain's youth appeal a while back.  Has Obama been afraid all of his life?  I don't know.

Comments

[Ann]

Hope ya made daaaaammmn good time.

Bad, you should change your name to Funny. I can't thank you enough for the times you have made me crack up!!!

[clarice]

bad, that's a great story. Soylent, of course you learned those tricks young. That's how you get to go into intelligence work.

[hit and run]

Soylent:
Man, I used to love road trips with the sisters and the old geezers.

Amen. Best part of my youth. By far. Hands down.

[Soylent Red]

That's how you get to go into intelligence work

I have no idea what you are talking about Clarice. I'm a lightbulb salesman.

[hit and run]

JMH:
Well, shoot, hit. I post to you here, then discover you're over in the Wind thread, so I post over there and discover you're over here. You're probably posting over there, right now, aren't you?

Where you go, I will follow.

[Flannigan]

Jor sounds like he works at the Kevorkian Memorial Medical Center.

His politics fit right in with Obama's though:

"America is the greatest nation ever seen on this Earth. I hope you will join with me to change it."

[Topsecretk9]

I'm a lightbulb salesman.

Figures. Prolly making millions capping on the global warming Lightbulb rush.

[Sue]

http://doubleplusundead.mee.nu/new_miracle_cure_dick_cheneys_man-boobs>These are the people Jor wants us to turn over the country to. Geeze...

[Soylent Red]

Prolly making millions capping on the global warming Lightbulb rush.

I have no idea what you are talking about TSK9.

That money was a gift from my rich uncle Nigel.

[hit and run]

Sue:
These are the people Jor wants us to turn over the country to. Geeze...

I need a ruling from Charlie on that.

[Porchlight]

Count me in on the roadtrips - best trips of my childhood. Two weeks every August in the station wagon, rain or shine. Got dragged to a lot of museums and battlefields, which I'm ever so grateful for now.

We were allowed to have soda pop only on roadtrips. Even now, every once in a long while, when I'm drinking a can of Sprite or Dr. Pepper, some old memory will be triggered and I'll be immediately transported back to a roadside gas station circa 1975. Good times.

[Topsecretk9]

on the road trips, anyone stop at Hojo's for a clam roll? Does Hojo's still have clam rolls, anyone know?

[Soylent Red]

We were allowed to have soda pop only on roadtrips.

Yup. Cold ones in glass bottles or the 57 various varieties of Shasta. I still think of that when I get a Coke in a glass bottle.

Why my parents decided to introduce sugar into the whole inside-of-the-station-wagon ecosystem I will never know.

[Soylent Red]

Don't know Hojo's, but I am a fan of Stuckey's pecan pie.

[centralcal]

Ah yes! The station wagon. My parents folded down the seat and made the whole back section into a cushiony bed area. My brother and sister would always fall asleep early, but not me. I got some great midnight snacks and/or early breaksfasts that they missed out on. Plus, if I was good, I got to be co-pilot.

Okay, hit, smiley faces if you must, but just direct me to the pictures, please.

[centralcal]

Soylent, I always thought you were much younger than some of us. You have station wagon memories too? Hhmm. I will have to re-think my image of youthful (or not) you.

[Porchlight]

I still think of that when I get a Coke in a glass bottle.

Those machines that had the bottles were so damn exciting. You still see them around occasionally.

sugar into the whole inside-of-the-station-wagon ecosystem

Well, now that I have kids, I know that a few minutes of comparative quiet happiness in the back of the car are worth the spills and sugar buzz that are bound to follow.

Tops, I haven't seen a HoJo's in years. Did they go out of business, maybe?

[bad]

I will have to re-think my image of youthful (or not) you.

centralcal Never.Ever. give up the fantasy.

[centralcal]

Dang it bad! Is my Soylent bubble bursting?

[Sue]

Did I mention we were dairy farmers? Not a lot of road trips for me. Unless you count the 15 miles it took to get to the other set of grandparents that didn't live right next door to me. ::sigh:: We did do the ocassional weekend trip to Galveston, about 5 hours or so. And one year, we went to Nashville! Went on the tour of homes and saw a guitar shaped swimming pool. I am having a fuzzy memory of which C&W star's home it was. Hank (not Williams) I think. Anyway, my road trips were not every year, but I can assure you, I was having the time of my life hanging on the farm.

[bad]

...you should change your name to Funny.

Only if it can be preceded by "tries to be."

Mr. bad and the three bad offspring are the funny ones. But I'm glad you laugh. In fact, laugh in place of wind sprints.

[clarice]

Do you suppose I could prevail upon my brother and sis terto join me in a last roadtrip? Nah...........But is was fun.

[Ann]

Stuckey's .....I still have an Indian coin purse my mother bought me on our way to Belmond. We always stayed at HOJOs, Porchlight. I am begining to wonder if our parents knew each other or at least the family's new each other. Ask your parents if they ever heard of Jim Waddington? He was my favorite uncle, a notorious drinker, golfer, store owner, that let me drive 100 miles a hour on country roads when I was twelve. The whole town went to his funeral. If they know him, we need to exchange emails. :)LOL

[hit and run]

Soylent and I are just one year apart.

Forget the whippersnappers Jor was talking about taking over from you geezers.

Me and Soylent. Running this country.

I believe the children of station wagons are our future...

[Sue]

Keep this in mind when you imagine a whole counties of dairy farmers in Chicago after their first ever plane ride! We were just a shade classier than the Clampetts, but no less wonderous. ::grin::

[centralcal]

My one and only (pretty long-time) husband was a dairy farmer in our early years. Registered Holsteins. I still only use real butter (never margarine and I love milk -- none of that watery 20% carp).

Dairymen were always tied to home base, even when they had "milkers." But, Sue - dairyment in Texas? I thought Texas was beef country!

[centralcal]

uh oh. too many cocktails, I am typing like Clarice when she's sober! (said with love and respect, Big C!)

[hit and run]

Centralcal -- the flora post is now up. Enjoy...

[bad]

I believe the children of station wagons are our future...

Thanks but no thanks. Mini-vans are in my past...

[Ann]

**knew** I think I did that the last time...groan.

[hit and run]

By the way...being here in mountain standard time is grand...none of this east coast early to bed early to rise carp.

[Sue]

C-cal,

Beef cattle were in West Texas, when I was growing up. Dairy cattle were in East Texas.

[Sue]

The home with the guitar shaped pool in Nashville in 1970 belonged to Webb Pierce. And http://www.slipcue.com/music/country/webbsite/webbintro.html>here it is.

[centralcal]

Oh, damn, Hit!. You make me pine for Spring again -- so short lived in California.

Rocky Mountain Columbine - Aquilegia Caerulia - one of my all time favorite flowers. We even have Lilacs here, too. But they were all months ago and you are just now enjoying them. I am so jealous!

And don't go feeling too superior on your mountain time, I am Pacific Coast time and have to wake up really, really early just to say morning to Jane! On the up side, I get to bed at a decent hour, while many of you are still posting into the wee hours.

Does Tom Maguire have any idea of the community he has spawned here? Poor man! He thinks we come here for his blog. Snort!

[Porchlight]

Ann, I'll ask my mom and her siblings about your uncle! But my grandmother didn't move to Clarion until 1962 after my grandfather died (the family was originally from South Dakota). By then all her kids had grown and moved out of state. So I don't know that mom ever knew the town too well. Too bad, because I think it's definitely possible my grandmother knew your family or at least had friends in common!

[Porchlight]

Sue, centralcal - my paternal grandfather spent 40 years traveling all over the upper Midwest selling dairy equipment for Land 0' Lakes. To this day, I cannot bring myself to buy another brand of butter. Just can't do it.

[clarice]

Lovely flowers. Niters..It's going to be a big Fourth here and I've just begun my slaving away.

[Soylent Red]

I always thought you were much younger than some of us.

Sorry to burst anyone's bubble. I look like I'm ten years younger than I am, if that helps any.

Me and Soylent. Running this country.

In my first official act as co-overlord, I will place a tape line through the center of the Oval Office and demand that Congress make Hit stay on his side of it.

My second act will be to eat a piece of Stuckey's pecan pie and wash it down with a 16-oz green glass bottle Coke.

I think that should set the tone for the Hit/Soylent administration.

[centralcal]

Whoa, Sue. Gilroy! (Webb Pierce) Spent many summers shopping at the outlets there on my way to Carmel, or Monterey, or Santa Cruz!

By the way, I was born in Texas (some carpy town in the panhandle) before my parents migrated us westward. Never been there since I was 3 or 4 years old. Kind would like to go, but I hear it is really, really hot and humid. I do hot, but not sure about humid.

[Sue]

Night Clarice. We are having our usual 4th of July family party, but I would give Hit's right leg to attend Clarice's. I can only imagine the menu!

[Porchlight]

All roads lead to Texas, centralcal. Okay, I stole that line from a Michigan friend who insists that all roads lead to Detroit. But I disagree.

My one goal for the Fourth is to spend it with people who like America. That is an increasingly difficult proposition in Austin. I am not at all sure that I will succeed.

[hit and run]

Soylent:
In my first official act as co-overlord, I will place a tape line through the center of the Oval Office and demand that Congress make Hit stay on his side of it.

I hope Congress does just that. I intend, as my first, second and perpetual act as co-overlord to defy every act of Congress possible.

With a smirk on my face.

[Soylent Red]

all roads lead to Detroit

This is true, but a lesser known corollary is

All roads in Detroit lead to a bad neighborhood.

[centralcal]

Ditto, Sue. Hey, Clarice - have a great Fourth!

[hit and run]

Sue:
but I would give Hit's right leg to attend Clarice's.

::grin::

I would gladly give my right leg in order that you might attend.

One too many thrills up it and all.

[Caro]

I agree, bad. Thanks. Laughter is extending our lives.

When I was a kid we traveled from Pittsburgh to Idaho in the summer. My mother drove for four days with a ping pong paddle on the front seat beside her. She waved it from time to time when my brother and I got too exuberant. My dad would fly out later and drive back with us.

It was the 50s...no Interstates and no air conditioning. Burma Shave and Mail Pouch Tobacco. Littered two-lane highways that went down Main Street in every town. Is this the Memory Lane thread?

I loved those clam rolls but it was the hot roast beef sanwiches on soggy bread and mashed potatoes that made the trip.

[centralcal]

Porchlight - Land o' Lakes is big here in the Central Valley too. It is my favorite brand of butter and, I think, the most flavorful.

[bad]

Rick

I'm ready for my story!!!! Please Rick, please, please, pretty please!!!! Please tell me another bedtime story....

[scottl720]

'It was the 50s...no Interstates and no air conditioning. Burma Shave and Mail Pouch Tobacco. Littered two-lane highways that went down Main Street in every town.'...

Man.... that is some good writing right there,

sl

[Porchlight]

I will place a tape line through the center of the Oval Office and demand that Congress make Hit stay on his side of it.

But who will bellow "Do you want me to turn this car around?" if Hit crosses the line? Maybe you could retain Cheney for that function.

[hit and run]

centralcal:
Okay, hit, smiley faces if you must, but just direct me to the pictures, please.

Smiley faces, just for centralcal...

[bad]

Hit

You and your daughter look sooooo much alike.

[Ann]

Centralcal, I only buy Vitamin D milk and real butter. Real women we are!! Kudos, to Land of Lakes!!

I would give you my pound cake recipe (Handed down by our great,great grandma Ruby of VA). I call it Heart Attack Cake..but you would love it. :) It is the one thing I take to parties that everyone loves and I refuse to give the recipe to anybody because I was sworn to secrecy you see, but I would give it to you and JOM :)
We have to figure out how to email to each other!

[Porchlight]

That's great, Hit! I think our daughters are about the same age.

And your flower photos are beautiful.

But I have to say, of all the pics on your photostream, my favorite is the Miller Lite can with the sippy cup top. I am still laughing.

[Porchlight]

That's great, Hit! I think our daughters are about the same age.

And your flower photos are beautiful.

But I have to say, of all the pics on your photostream, my favorite is the Miller Lite can with the sippy cup top. I am still laughing.

[Porchlight]

darn, sorry for the double post!

[hit and run]

Portchlight:
But I have to say, of all the pics on your photostream, my favorite is the Miller Lite can with the sippy cup top. I am still laughing.

The Miller Lite sippy cup was last year...and brother hit and run's youngest is now out of sippy cups. But sister hit and run has a daughter of 10 1/2 months who will be graduating to the Miller Lite sippy cup soon.

As soon as I can divert sister hit and run's attention, that is.

[Topsecretk9]

Monica update:

The federal probe of a controversial sludge disposal contract focuses on at least four Detroit City Council members and is shaping up to be the city’s biggest public corruption scandal in decades, sources told the Free Press on Tuesday.

They said the widening investigation also extends to council staffers, city departmental personnel and people outside government -- with several people caught on FBI surveillance audio and videotape accepting “payoffs” from James Rosendall, an official with Houston-based Synagro Technologies, a waste-management company.

Two sources said Rosendall exploited a “pay-to-play” environment in city government.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the probe’s sensitive nature said they were surprised how cheaply some public officials could be bought.

[Topsecretk9]

Wonder if Monica is calling John Conyers "shrek" right about now?

[Ann]

Only if it can be preceded by "tries to be."

Mr. bad and the three bad offspring are the funny ones. But I'm glad you laugh. In fact, laugh in place of wind sprints.

Oh, bad, I am sorry if I did something wrong. I only wanted to point out what a great spirit you have and how I adore your humor. I have heard about you from JOM and I finally got to read your comments and understand their love of you. I was trying to ditto that, Sorry.

[JM Hanes]

Vitamin D milk? I buy heavy cream and butter. I am Woman!

[Davod]

Whatever happened to "Don't feed the Trolls"

[Jane]

I'm so sad I missed the Hit fest - but boy those flora pix are amazing!

[scottl720]

the flora pics are outstanding,

man, high summer wildflowers

i'm a little teary looking at them,

i'll say she took the Pink Lilac

sl

[centralcal]

Ann, what an honor that you would share your heirloom recipe with me. But, please don't! Let me explain. I am a great cook - love to cook, love to eat. But, I cannot bake. Simply cannot do it, though I have tried and tried. My family sees me near flour and they head for the door!

Now, I do love to eat baked goodies. Maybe if one day we have a JOM meet and greet, I will get to wolf down the fabulous pound cake. But don't dishonor your recipe by sharing it with me. We have some really great bakers here who would do it justice.

Hit, I agree with bad - you and your daughter look almost like twins! (Man those are some tall lupines behind you.)

[bad]

Ann

You did nothing wrong at all!!! I am honored that you think I'm funny and thank you for your kind words. My response was supposed to be funny and was incomprehensible instead. (see what I mean?)