McCain self-destructs on The Daily Show

Between McCain and Rudy ... ol' Huck's looking better and better.

 

I'll play amateur psychologist and ask whether McCain is doing these Daily Show appearances out of some kind of self-hatred or self-destructive tendencies. What's interesting to me is he's debating like he doesn't really believe what he's saying. In a previous McCain appearance on TDS, he admitted, after Stewart pinned him on it, that he was saying some stuff just to appease the Republican base. You know, the ones that sunk his 2000 candidacy because they thought he had a black baby or something. Regarding Stewart, it's not that McCain DOESN'T know he's going to be grilled. (As Stewart noted, McCain has been the most frequent guest on TDS, with nine appearances.) He doesn't even get angry or jump on Stewart about his questioning.

It's sad, really. McCain, despite stuff like, say, the Keating Five, seemed like he had the potential to be a good leader. Now he's operating out of the Dole '96 has-been manual.

 

After all, you're right. If Clinton/Gore can get eight years....anyone can.

 

Please explain how it's good PR? How does it help him?

 

He came off as a cliche-spouting lunatic.

And Bob, you're exactly right.

McCain will self-destruct, just blow up at some point, and I really think it's because deep down he loathes himself for his ambition and the things it has made him do.

He hugged Bush on stage to become president. From everything that was ever published about the man before that, it wasn't a moment that can sit well with him. He will unconciously torpedo his own campaign. That, and second place does him no good. He ain't after the VP job. That's just the excuse a risk-taker needs to take even more risks.

 

If anyone's interested in seeing this, the repeat of the show comes on at 2 p.m. EST on CC.

 

Show airing again now on Comedy Central.

 

I don't know about that, but I do know that the one thing not touched on in this thread (from the same old crew) is how "O'Reilly-esque" Stewart was last night. And that's fine, because I like both O'Reilly and Stewart, but for different reasons. However, last night Jon's performance was a MIRROR of what Bill does--ranting and raving with no interest whatsoever in the guest's response. Jon would start ranting, McCain would get half a (cliche) sentence out, and Jon would start ranting again.

I understand most of the peanut gallery around here sides with Stewart because they share ideologies, but I just don't want to hear what a windbag O'Reilly is anymore. The reason O'Reilly is hated is now even more clearly due to his (opposing) ideology, because Jon Stewart was every bit the windbag Bill O'Reilly ever was last night.

 

Is O'Reilly ever not a windbag?

Stewart actually has some other clubs in the bag. That makes a difference.

 

Sometimes O'Reilly is not a windbag.

 

Um ... OK. :