McCain's Contemptuousness: "A feature, not a bug"

John Cole captures the fallout for McCain from last night's first presidential debate:

That is just a sample of what is going to come. Look for the appearance of the following words in days to come: cranky, grumpy, crotchety, angry, mean, rude, sneering, snarling, contemptuous, off-putting, snide, boorish, and worst of all, not Presidential. ... And if McCain does not tone down the contempt, it will simply feed the narrative. Or, if we are really lucky, as someone suggested in another thread, McCain will overcompensate and spend the entire time comically and creepily attempting to make eye contact with Obama. ...

This should be terrifying for the McCain campaign for two reasons. First, the base will not understand it. To them, a sneering, contemptuous jerk is a feature, not a bug. When they try to tone down McCain, it will turn off the diehards. Look at the reaction of the base to Palin’s RNC speech- they LOVED that she was, for all intents and purposes, nothing but an asshole the entire speech. They loved the "zingers" that were written for her. The rest of the country recoiled in horror, and Obama raised ten million the next 48 hours.

Second, they have spent the last few months angrily lashing out at the media, and these were the folks who used to love McCain.

We want elite pilots to fly our planes, don't we?

In the current issue of Newsweek, Sam Harris "rips Sarah Palin—and defends elitism."

The problem, as far as our political process is concerned, is that half the electorate revels in Palin's lack of intellectual qualifications. When it comes to politics, there is a mad love of mediocrity in this country. "They think they're better than you!" is the refrain that (highly competent and cynical) Republican strategists have set loose among the crowd, and the crowd has grown drunk on it once again. "Sarah Palin is an ordinary person!" Yes, all too ordinary.

and

I care even more about the many things Palin thinks she knows but doesn't: like her conviction that the Biblical God consciously directs world events. Needless to say, she shares this belief with millions of Americans—but we shouldn't be eager to give these people our nuclear codes, either. There is no question that if President McCain chokes on a spare rib and Palin becomes the first woman president, she and her supporters will believe that God, in all his majesty and wisdom, has brought it to pass. Why would God give Sarah Palin a job she isn't ready for? He wouldn't. Everything happens for a reason. Palin seems perfectly willing to stake the welfare of our country—even the welfare of our species—as collateral in her own personal journey of faith.

and

What is so unnerving about the candidacy of Sarah Palin is the degree to which she represents—and her supporters celebrate—the joyful marriage of confidence and ignorance. Watching her deny to Gibson that she had ever harbored the slightest doubt about her readiness to take command of the world's only superpower, one got the feeling that Palin would gladly assume any responsibility on earth:

"Governor Palin, are you ready at this moment to perform surgery on this child's brain?"

"Of course, Charlie. I have several boys of my own, and I'm an avid hunter."

"But governor, this is neurosurgery, and you have no training as a surgeon of any kind."

"That's just the point, Charlie. The American people want change in how we make medical decisions in this country. And when faced with a challenge, you cannot blink."

and

There is simply no other walk of life in which extraordinary talent and rigorous training are denigrated. We want elite pilots to fly our planes, elite troops to undertake our most critical missions, elite athletes to represent us in competition and elite scientists to devote the most productive years of their lives to curing our diseases. And yet, when it comes time to vest people with even greater responsibilities, we consider it a virtue to shun any and all standards of excellence. When it comes to choosing the people whose thoughts and actions will decide the fates of millions, then we suddenly want someone just like us, someone fit to have a beer with, someone down-to-earth—in fact, almost anyone, provided that he or she doesn't seem too intelligent or well educated.

Although I am not an atheist (a Methodist, in fact -- I had to chuckle at the reference to Methodists in the article), I share these same concerns. It's worth a read.

My Convention Photos!

Cross-posted at Daily Kos and SFKossacks.


In the lobby of the Denver Sheraton Hotel downtown. Both the New York and California delegations took over the Sheraton (formerly the Adam’s Mark).


The oldest church in Denver, First United Methodist Church, is downtown. They had sent me an invitation to the Sunday service, but I would not arrive in Denver until later in the day.


The Sheraton Hotel is at the southern end of the 16th Street Mall, about a 10-block long street that is closed to private vehicles.


Riot police stationed around an event at the "Rock the Vote" van. Three musicians on top of the van were setting up to play, and a small crowd was waiting on the sidewalk.


The police rode horses on the 16th Street Mall too.


PETA outside the Colorado Convention Center. Lipstick anyone? This is where many of the passive "sideshow" protesters hung out every day, although the four anti-abortion people had a bullhorn. There were cops and street vendors too.


This 20-foot-tall bear looks into the Colorado Convention Center, where most of the official Democratic Party caucus meetings and other events occurred. Delegates with floor passes did not have to go through security.


Former Texas Ag Commissioner Jim Hightower and I at the Colorado Convention Center. Hightower had just spoken to the Rural Caucus.


California Secretary of State Debra Bowen and I in a guest room hallway in the Sheraton. Just another one of those chance encounters with our Democratic leaders.


The delegate security checkpoint. They did a good job of getting us through quickly at the Pepsi Center. Invesco Field was a different story.


Fellow California CD11 and CD10 delegates, Lea Austin of Tracy and Ken Richards of Walnut Creek, and I at the Pepsi Center.


View looking down the escalator upon entering the Pepsi Center on Day 1.


We found the sign. Hail, California!


California Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres and yours truly in the Pepsi Center.


The CNN team, right in front of the California delegation seating. Love that Donna Brazile.


That’s me at the foot of the Pepsi Center stage. With my pass, I could walk anywhere on the floor.


Virginia Governor Tim Kaine being interviewed on the floor.


The Alaska delegation (at least they were on the floor part of the "floor"). Except for Illinois, just about all of the delegations on the actual floor were from battleground states.


A tribute film to Jimmy Carter prior to his appearance.


Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter appear on stage, but do not address the crowd.


Barack Obama’s sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, addresses the convention.


Ted Kennedy summons his strength to speak to the convention. We were expecting a video greeting and were overwhelmed when he showed up in person.


Ted Kennedy’s convention farewell. But he said, "And I pledge to you, I pledge to you that I will be there next January on the floor of the United States Senate when we begin the great test."


Fellow East Bay delegates Mark Friedman, Fred Feller and Ayelet Waldman, all Obama delegates from Berkeley.


Michelle’s speech to the convention on Monday night was perfect.


Barack speaking to Michelle and kids via satellite from St. Louis Kansas City after Michelle’s speech.


Rep. Donna Edwards, Dr. Julianne Malveaux and me after the “Turn Around America” panel discussion in which they participated on Tuesday.


Sen. Amy Klobuchar was on the same panel.


Dennis Kucinich (the invited speaker) and his wife, Elizabeth, enter an interest group event at the Sheraton.


“Hope” – Outside the Pepsi Center.


CNN Grill across the street from the Pepsi Center. I never got to go there.


Michael Wilson, of Florida, a Republican and Air Force medic veteran of Iraq, placed Sen. Obama’s name in nomination to be our presidential candidate.


Climbing the arena’s lower bowl steps to my seat in the delegation near the California sign.


Arkansas, home of the former first lady of Arkansas, "has 47 votes. For Barack Obama…" (It now appears that she got cut off by the huge crowd cheer before she said 37 votes for Obama).


Sen. Boxer introduces Art Torres at the roll call to announce California’s vote.


Art Torres passes when it’s California’s turn at the roll call, shocking many in the delegation.


David Gregory of MSNBC stops by to find out why California passed.


New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine announces all 127 of New Jersey’s votes go to Barack Obama, even though Clinton won the state. The place goes wild.


Sen. Hillary Clinton makes a motion to suspend the roll call and nominate Barack Obama by acclamation. It seemed that everyone in the arena, when asked by Nancy Pelosi, "Do I hear a second?," yelled “Second!” Then to "All those in favor?," shouted “Aye,” followed by the fastest gavel in the West.


Lea Austin and I in the Pepsi Center, being amazed at just being there to represent the voters of our Congressional District.


Gloria Allred, who earlier had staged a demonstration of being "gagged" by the state Democratic Party, and Sen. Barbara Boxer discuss why California passed during the roll call.


Governor Gray Davis and Sharon Davis sat next to me.


Kamala Harris, San Francisco District Attorney, sat two rows in front of me.


Melissa Etheridge kicks ass for the Constitution, prior to Bill Clinton being introduced.


President Clinton addresses an admiring audience.


Bill Clinton leaves the stage to thunderous applause.


Nancy Pelosi stops by our row at the Pepsi Center.


John Kerry stirs up the Pepsi Center crowd. Where was this John Kerry four years ago?


Nancy Pelosi puts the motion to nominate Joe Biden to the floor for a vote.


Joe Biden accepts the vice-presidential nomination.


Joe Biden’s mom was watching from the second level suites.


New York Congressman Charlie Rangel and I at the Sheraton. This was our second encounter, and this time I had my camera ready.


The delegate line winds around a parking lot while we wait in the heat to go through security at Invesco Field.


One of the young volunteers who directed delegates to the field entrance. I was floating on air having just gotten through security.


This way to the field where the delegates are; it’s like the Mother of all Super Bowls!


Yeah, it’s me. I’m holding my hometown paper, the "Pleasanton Weekly." They print photos of Pleasanton residents holding the paper at their travel destinations.


Ken Richard, Lea Austin and Tracy Krumpen (from Napa) in the late afternoon Invesco sun.


Sheryl Crow rocked the house with four great songs. It was amusing that the organizers put the lyrics on the teleprompter.


Another Bay Area delegate, April Vargas of San Mateo County.


Congressman George Miller at Invesco Field. Earlier at the Pepsi Center, when I crossed in front of him to get to my seat in the same row, I recognized him and said hello, and then he said, "Hi. George Miller of District 10." What an unassuming guy!


Congresswoman Barbara Lee at Invesco Field.


New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson fires up the crowd.


Stevie Wonder sings "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" as the delegates danced and swayed along.


Al Gore takes the stage at Invesco Field to a monumental welcome.


View of the stadium from the field during Al Gore’s speech. It was nearing capacity attendance at this point.


Former San Francisco mayor and California Assembly speaker Willie Brown and I at Invesco Field. Earlier he had spoken at the California delegation breakfast.


Twenty U.S. generals and admirals stand up for Barack Obama. This was a proud moment for our nation.


Vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden addresses the throng at Invesco Field.


Crowd at Invesco Field at dusk.


Barack Obama is introduced at Invesco Field. You probably remember the moment.


The crowd could not be quieted – for good reason!


Barack Obama delivered a magnificent speech on improving the lives of the average American and offered real solutions.


Barack on stage with Michelle, Sasha and Malia just after completing his speech.


The Bidens join the Obamas on stage.


Streamers and fireworks erupt at Invesco Field.


Confetti rains down at Invesco after Obama’s acceptance speech.


Fireworks light up the sky at Invesco.


Barack Obama – a winner in any language.


Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. leaving Invesco Field.


Goodnight, Chet. Goodnight, David. And good night for NBC News.


Farewell from the Denver Airport. It’s been great!