McCain proposes weekly townhall meetings with Obama...

blackredyellowblackredyellow Posts: 5,889
edited June 2008 in A Moving Train
In his speech today, McCain said that he sent a letter to Obama this morning inviting him to join him for weekly town hall meetings, instead of big media driven, spin-filled debates. He even joked that they could travel together to save money.

I really like this idea... and I would love for these two candidates to actually communicate together during this campaign. I think that it could really ratchet down the political culture that has spun out of control in the last 15 years.
My whole life
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“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
― Abraham Lincoln
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Comments

  • MrMerkinballMrMerkinball Posts: 1,978
    Interesting approach. If you are Obama, try turning that down........and still saying you want to change the way politics works.
  • 88keys88keys Posts: 151
    I think this would be great for both candidates. It would give the people a chance to really see these guys in as much of an "un-rehearesed" forum as possible with little or no influence from media pundits asking loaded question.
    Camden 8/28/1998; Jones Beach 8/24/2000; Camden 9/1/2000; Camden 9/2/2000; Albany 4/29/2003; New York 7/8/2003; Vancouver 9/2/2005; Atlantic City 10/1/2005; Albany 5/12/2006; E. Rutherford 6/1/2006; E. Rutherford 6/3/2006; New York 6/24/2008; New York 6/25/2008; New York 5/20/2010
  • memememe Posts: 4,695
    god no...have a few, but WEEKLY? Just spread your message widely. I think too much debating makes a candidate focus on his opponent too much, instead of their own project.
    ... and the will to show I will always be better than before.
  • ledveddermanledvedderman Posts: 7,761
    I really hope the Obama camp agrees to this. John McCain has made all of his big blunders at town halls, it would be nice to have Senator Obama there to call him out on it. Plus, it will give Obama lots of practice for debating before the lights of a nationally televised debate.
  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,497
    Strange that McCain would offer this up...perhaps his campaign got wind of what Obama may do and beat him to the punch to take some wind out of his sails?

    Either way, and no matter who you think is going to win, seems like a big risk for McCain to take on Obama in that kind of setting.
    hippiemom = goodness
  • bryn_cmbsbryn_cmbs Posts: 407
    Strange that McCain would offer this up...perhaps his campaign got wind of what Obama may do and beat him to the punch to take some wind out of his sails?

    Either way, and no matter who you think is going to win, seems like a big risk for McCain to take on Obama in that kind of setting.

    Agreed.
  • jeffbrjeffbr Seattle Posts: 7,177
    The polls generally show Obama beating McCain, and it is usually the underdogs asking for more debates in the hopes that they can get an advantage and move up. So it isn't surprising to me that McCain wants more opportunities to take on Obama.
    "I'll use the magic word - let's just shut the fuck up, please." EV, 04/13/08
  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,497
    jeffbr wrote:
    The polls generally show Obama beating McCain, and it is usually the underdogs asking for more debates in the hopes that they can get an advantage and move up. So it isn't surprising to me that McCain wants more opportunities to take on Obama.


    Still, probably not the time to take your opponents strenght and try to make it his weakness...in my opinion. I guess it depends on the format.

    Although, I do think minimizing the Obama $ by talking of traveling together, etc. is a smart move for sure. Start playing up the fact that you have less $ by making it seem as though you are frugal. ;)
    hippiemom = goodness
  • Two cards in the same deck of different suits agree to co-exist in the same pack.

    remarkable.
    Progress is not made by everyone joining some new fad,
    and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
    over specific principles, goals, and policies.

    http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg

    (\__/)
    ( o.O)
    (")_(")
  • 88keys88keys Posts: 151
    meme wrote:
    god no...have a few, but WEEKLY? Just spread your message widely. I think too much debating makes a candidate focus on his opponent too much, instead of their own project.

    McCain proposed only 10 town hall meetings... it's not like he wants to do them every week until election day.
    Camden 8/28/1998; Jones Beach 8/24/2000; Camden 9/1/2000; Camden 9/2/2000; Albany 4/29/2003; New York 7/8/2003; Vancouver 9/2/2005; Atlantic City 10/1/2005; Albany 5/12/2006; E. Rutherford 6/1/2006; E. Rutherford 6/3/2006; New York 6/24/2008; New York 6/25/2008; New York 5/20/2010
  • 88keys88keys Posts: 151
    jeffbr wrote:
    The polls generally show Obama beating McCain, and it is usually the underdogs asking for more debates in the hopes that they can get an advantage and move up. So it isn't surprising to me that McCain wants more opportunities to take on Obama.

    True, but the difference in many of the polls have been within the margin or error. Also, Bush trailed both Gore and Kerry in polls and we saw how those election turned out.

    It would be interesting to see them travel together though. It would be a breath of fresh air to see two competitors slug it out respectfully with little to none of the negative campaining and "swift-boating" we've seen in the last 2 presidential elections.
    Camden 8/28/1998; Jones Beach 8/24/2000; Camden 9/1/2000; Camden 9/2/2000; Albany 4/29/2003; New York 7/8/2003; Vancouver 9/2/2005; Atlantic City 10/1/2005; Albany 5/12/2006; E. Rutherford 6/1/2006; E. Rutherford 6/3/2006; New York 6/24/2008; New York 6/25/2008; New York 5/20/2010
  • In his speech today, McCain said that he sent a letter to Obama this morning inviting him to join him for weekly town hall meetings, instead of big media driven, spin-filled debates. He even joked that they could travel together to save money.

    I really like this idea... and I would love for these two candidates to actually communicate together during this campaign. I think that it could really ratchet down the political culture that has spun out of control in the last 15 years.


    if we truly wanted to enact real democracy in america, federal election-processes would receive large quantities of tax-payer moneys to ensure that under-funded candidates have at least a minimal degree of "equal-opportunity" to participate in expressing policies and ideas; all of the basic procedures and debates would be funded by the government [the people] for the benefit of the people [the government]; all candidates would co-exist in a similar atmosphere, perhaps comparable with a professional sports combine or a large arts audition; and in the long-run this would propel the best candidate to rise above whatever bullshit political-environment may be dominant at a given moment because the extraneous factors of wealth and bureaucracy would not exist.

    [yes, you may say im a dreamer, but im not the only one......]
    we don’t know just where our bones will rest,
    to dust i guess,
    forgotten and absorbed into the earth below,..
  • decides2dreamdecides2dream Posts: 14,977
    i think it could well be a good thing, interesting to see how it all works, and if it does indeed change at all how the discussion between them goes, or not. either way, can't see it as a bad thing at all. communication rarely is.

    if we truly wanted to enact real democracy in america, federal election-processes would receive large quantities of tax-payer moneys to ensure that under-funded candidates have at least a minimal degree of "equal-opportunity" to participate in expressing policies and ideas; all of the basic procedures and debates would be funded by the government [the people] for the benefit of the people [the government]; all candidates would co-exist in a similar atmosphere, perhaps comparable with a professional sports combine or a large arts audition; and in the long-run this would propel the best candidate to rise above whatever bullshit political-environment may be dominant at a given moment because the extraneous factors of wealth and bureaucracy would not exist.

    [yes, you may say im a dreamer, but im not the only one......]




    on first glance...that sounds like it could well be a very positive first step, absolutely.
    Stay with me...
    Let's just breathe...


    I am myself like you somehow


  • LikeAnOceanLikeAnOcean Posts: 7,718
    Strange that McCain would offer this up..
    Not strange. McCain's campaign is out of money. Townhall meetings are free press for him.
  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,497
    Not strange. McCain's campaign is out of money. Townhall meetings are free press for him.


    Yep, you're right. I aluded to that in a later post after thinking about it more. It counteracts Obama's big buck$!
    hippiemom = goodness
  • i think it could well be a good thing, interesting to see how it all works, and if it does indeed change at all how the discussion between them goes, or not. either way, can't see it as a bad thing at all. communication rarely is.


    on first glance...that sounds like it could well be a very positive first step, absolutely.


    thanks, but there is ZERO chance of Obama caring to enact such broad changes to the existing system, which is why so many around here are adamant about his "lack of electabilty"!!
    we don’t know just where our bones will rest,
    to dust i guess,
    forgotten and absorbed into the earth below,..
  • VictoryGinVictoryGin Posts: 1,207
    Not strange. McCain's campaign is out of money. Townhall meetings are free press for him.

    McCain Raises Millions

    By Matthew Mosk

    While Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were doing battle in the last handfull of primary contests last month, Republican John McCain was busy socking away money.

    McCain raised $21.5 million last month, up from the $18 million he collected in April, while piling up cash in his campaign accounts, ending the month with $31.5 million.

    The Republican presidential candidate may still be playing catch-up, though. Obama, now the presumptive Democratic nominee, has not released his figures for May fundraising, but he had $46.5 million on hand at the end of April, despite having spent $35 million on a month of primary battles. And historically, the month a presidential candidate clinches his party's nomination brings the biggest fundraising bonanza of the campaign.

    Still, Republican officials were pleased with their improving circumstances. In a statement released today, RNC officials said the party had $53.6 million in the bank at the start of June, a figure that will "signal a strong showing for Republicans in the presidential contest, especially as they prepare to confront Democrat Barack Obama, whose extraordinary fundraising has set records."

    http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/06/05/mccain_raises_millions.html
    if you wanna be a friend of mine
    cross the river to the eastside
  • 88keys88keys Posts: 151
    Not strange. McCain's campaign is out of money. Townhall meetings are free press for him.

    McCain just raised $21 million and is now the sole recipient of republican/conservative contributions, plus his wife is a gazillionaire.... he's not out of money, nor will he ever be.
    Camden 8/28/1998; Jones Beach 8/24/2000; Camden 9/1/2000; Camden 9/2/2000; Albany 4/29/2003; New York 7/8/2003; Vancouver 9/2/2005; Atlantic City 10/1/2005; Albany 5/12/2006; E. Rutherford 6/1/2006; E. Rutherford 6/3/2006; New York 6/24/2008; New York 6/25/2008; New York 5/20/2010
  • mca47mca47 Posts: 13,299
    I think a few of them would be good. Weekly is just silly.

    I just don't see why McCain would want to do this. Say what you want about Obama, but the guy is a great speaker...an ability not quite as strong for McCain.
  • Maybe they can hatch out some proposed upgrades for the patriot act of which they both agree on, and voted for.
    Progress is not made by everyone joining some new fad,
    and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
    over specific principles, goals, and policies.

    http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg

    (\__/)
    ( o.O)
    (")_(")
  • Maybe they can hatch out some proposed upgrades for the patriot act of which they both agree on, and voted for.

    :)

    who knows, maybe we'll all get lucky and they'll decide to make each other each-other's running-mates,...

    McCain/Obama vs. Obama/McCain '08!!

    [i think im gonna vomit...]
    we don’t know just where our bones will rest,
    to dust i guess,
    forgotten and absorbed into the earth below,..
  • slightofjeffslightofjeff Posts: 7,762
    Either way, and no matter who you think is going to win, seems like a big risk for McCain to take on Obama in that kind of setting.

    I don't know. Obama doesn't seem too comfortable off-the-cuff. He's great at the long, uninterrupted well-rehearsed speeches.

    Get him in a Q&A, and he calls people bitter gun nuts ;)

    That's the reason Obama is proposing a Lincoln-Douglas format ... prepared speeches, perhaps reacting to each other, but with a limited Q&A session.
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • LikeAnOceanLikeAnOcean Posts: 7,718
    88keys wrote:
    McCain just raised $21 million and is now the sole recipient of republican/conservative contributions, plus his wife is a gazillionaire.... he's not out of money, nor will he ever be.
    I'm just repeating what I heard them talking about on CNN.. Obama still has a lot more money than McCain's mere 21 million.
  • memememe Posts: 4,695
    I don't know. Obama doesn't seem too comfortable off-the-cuff.

    I actually agree with this.
    ... and the will to show I will always be better than before.
  • if we truly wanted to enact real democracy in america, federal election-processes would receive large quantities of tax-payer moneys to ensure that under-funded candidates have at least a minimal degree of "equal-opportunity" to participate in expressing policies and ideas; all of the basic procedures and debates would be funded by the government [the people] for the benefit of the people [the government]; all candidates would co-exist in a similar atmosphere, perhaps comparable with a professional sports combine or a large arts audition; and in the long-run this would propel the best candidate to rise above whatever bullshit political-environment may be dominant at a given moment because the extraneous factors of wealth and bureaucracy would not exist.

    [yes, you may say im a dreamer, but im not the only one......]

    Nope, you're not the only one. :)
    If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.

    Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
    -Oscar Wilde
  • Nope, you're not the only one. :)


    it's funny, there is so often said how people need to wake-up,... and here i am just wanting to fall asleep for once......

    [wait, that isn't really funny at all. sorry.]
    we don’t know just where our bones will rest,
    to dust i guess,
    forgotten and absorbed into the earth below,..
  • 88keys88keys Posts: 151
    I'm just repeating what I heard them talking about on CNN.. Obama still has a lot more money than McCain's mere 21 million.

    Obama will always have more money... he's a donation magnet. He smiles at people and they hand him $100 bills. McCain will never raise as much money as Obama, but he'll raise enough to fund his campaign through November.
    Camden 8/28/1998; Jones Beach 8/24/2000; Camden 9/1/2000; Camden 9/2/2000; Albany 4/29/2003; New York 7/8/2003; Vancouver 9/2/2005; Atlantic City 10/1/2005; Albany 5/12/2006; E. Rutherford 6/1/2006; E. Rutherford 6/3/2006; New York 6/24/2008; New York 6/25/2008; New York 5/20/2010
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