Paul, Welcome to the Lake.

Ari, Thank you for Hosting today’s Book Salon.

Thanks. Should be fun. Much to talk about. CNN is reporting Breaking News that the House & Senate have reached a deal on the bailout and, in CNN’s words, “will take it to Treasury Secretary Paulson.” What’s wrong with this picture? When I was a kid we had a Chief Executive in the federal government called the President. Further proof that the man with his finger on the nuclear button is perceived by the leaders of both parties as a high functioning moron. And maybe not that high functioning at that.

Paul an opening question: What fact about John McCain, that you learned while writing this book surprised you the most?

Paul, your thoughts on McCain’s yesterday events of a stop to the campaign and then campaigning?

which way is it: “George W. Bush <3 John McCain" or "John McCain <3 George W. Bush."

Nothing like making monumental, critical decisions in haste and in a panic.

He is surprisingly comfortable with sleaze. Like a lot of folks, I’d kinda forgotten the Keating Five and had heard all the claptrap about McCain being a reformer. But rather than an aberration, the Keating scandal was typical of McCain. He intervened with federal banking regulators to help a big contributor. Now he situates that sleaze in his redemption narrative. But that’s contradicted by his pressuring of the Federal Communications Commission on behalf of telecom firms whose executives and lobbyists support him, and his strong deregulatory record as speculators and swindlers rob us blind. He has, as of the time we published the book, 134 current or former lobbyists involved in his campaign – as fundraisers or bundlers or advisers or even campaign manager. The number is now higher. But do you really think 134 lobbyists are for McCain because they believe he’s a reformer? (Obama, by the way, has zero.)

Paul I have long thought/said the best way to expose this Administration is through mockery.

Bravo

Yeah, I think McCain is panicked. Which proves my theory that he’s just like Bush. He is rash and reckless – that’s how we got Sarah Palin potentially one heartbeat (and a 72 year old heartbeat at that) away from the presidency. And that’s how he went in a matter of days from saying the economy is fundamentally sound to saying it was such a crisis he can’t go to the debate. He looks rattled. Meanwhile, Barack looks like a cool, calm and collected leader in a time of crisis. Wasn’t he supposed to be the fraidy-cat kid and McCain the seasoned leader?

But do you really think 134 lobbyists are for McCain because they believe he’s a reformer?

See, that’s the way you do it.

Welcome Paul Begala – good to see you here at FDL. What is your take on the McCain bailing out on the scheduled Friday debate?

Thanks. Humor, ridicule, satire – they’re how we deal with tragedy. There’s no one better at that, by the way, than Al Franken. We need him in the Senate more than I can say. (No, I don’t work for him, or any other politician. I just think Al would be a breath of fresh air in Washington.)

Talk like that will make McCain put on his secret POW cloak of power yeet again.

One of the things that reduced my to belly laughs was when i read this morning that McCain was suggesting postponing sine die (that is, “without setting a new date”)the VICE presidential debates next week because he says we have to deal with the bailout this week.

Gee, do you think it’s b/c even a lightweight like Katie Couric can hand Caribou Barbie her lunch in an interview??? Hmmmm?

Welcome Paul!

Digg

Welcome to FDL, Paul!

You famously wrote “for negative campaigning only” on your Obama contribution — do you feel as though they’ve spent your dough yet?

Paul,

It’s pretty clear that McCain is a hothead and is reckless. But, for those of us who haven’t had the “pleasure” of knowing him over the years, are there any discernible changes in his stamina/ability to focus?

From what I see, am extremely concerned he is not physically (much less emotionally) up to the demands of the presidency — expecially during these challenging times.

Also, is this issue even on the radar of the press?

I just saw these two videos of McCain side by side…one from yesterday, and one from 2 weeks ago…very disturbing. He appears to have an eye droop. Could that explain the reason for “suspending” his campaign? Take a look when you have a minute and compare the two videos:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyo…../99/610095

Is it OT to ask about his marriage? Apparently, it has been a key in his career. Rumors are they live apart; Cindy seems quite frail in an odd sort of way. How do you think that relate to/support each other? What kind of first lady may she be, while running a beer empire? Etc, etc

Al Franken doing stanup on the Senate floor will certainly do wonders for C-Span’s ratings *g*

Hello Paul,
Just stumbled in to this book salon, and I haven’t yet read your book, but I have a quick question that could cover a broad range of sub-topics pertaining to McCain’s life…

What role does honor play in a man’s life if it is a life filled with efforts to cover up dishonorable or deceptive events and practices? Off the top, I am speaking of tolerating a Father who was involved in the cover-up of the USS Liberty attack, denying complicity in the USS Forrestal explosions and the subsequent cover-up and fabrications, the Savings and Loan swindle / Keating Five, running cover for Jack Abramoff’s exploits in Arizona…and the list goes on.

Thanks~
Styve

If McCain were to gain office, Cindy will be overshadowed by “Second Dude” Todd Palin.

Mostly, yes. Barack’s convention speech was the best I have ever seen – and I’ve been to nine conventions. He put the wood to McCain and the right wingers, told us about his values and his vision. He’s had some killer ads, drawing the right kind of distinctions. But I must say I did not like it when, yesterday, he said the economic meltdown is not a Republican or a Democratic problem. With all due respect, he’s wrong. It IS a Republican problem. We Democrats, led by Pres. Clinton, left the Republicans a projected surplus of $5.3 trillion and an economy that generated 23 million new jobs and raised median family income by more than $6,000. Bush and McCain and the rest of the GOP have ruined our economy. If, as the dominant metaphor says, the house is on fire, then the fire was not caused by lightning. It was arson. And someone ought to point out that Bush and McCain and the whole right-wing crowd are the arsonists. I fear Barack is too big-hearted, letting them off too easy. What do you think?

I imagine it being like Colbert’s speech to the White House Correspondents Dinner. Not much more than nervous murmuring from those in attendance while the larger TV audience is falling down laughing.

Mr. Begala, a great honor to have you here at FDL.

Interesting. I’ve talked with people who have traveled overseas with him, including to Iraq. They all describe him as indefatigable. And yet running for President is exhausting. But rather than being tired or sick, I just think he’s out of touch. He’s Clueless Joe Jackson. Doesn’t know how many homes he owns (it’s nine, sir, spread across three time zones.) He has 13 cars, a private jet and a $100 million family fortune. Wealth in and of itself does not make someone out of touch, of course. FDR and JFK were wealthy and deeply empathetic to the poor and middle class. But there’s something about McCain — just like Bush — that seems to be a willful denial of the economic reality facing millions of folks.

Are you worried that the republicans will steal this election? There have been some disturbing articles. Most recently talking about purging voters because of inconsistent ways they sign their names (i.e. using a middle initial or not). What are the dems doing to prevent this?

Paul, welcome to FDL! And Ari, thanks so much for hosting him today.

Paul, I wondered if you could comment on Sarah Palin’s acceptance of a homework assignment from Katie Couric in yesterday’s interview excerpt. Do you think she’ll really find some examples of McCain’s regulation prowess and turn them in like she promised? Or was that just another McCain campaign dodge and phony show maneuver?

Paul I am somewhat concerned about how McCain sets priorities, Yesterday the economy was in crisis and near cratering. But then it was more important to be on the Letterman show, then it was more important to be on the Couric show, then it was more important to appear in front of Clintons crowd all before he returning to congress to work on the dire crisis. But then it is more important to work on the crisis on Friday skipping the debate despite the probability that most will take the night off. Is there some problem with this guys brain.

Welcome, Mr. Begala, and with all due respect to you and FDL — why is Donna Brazile allowed to speak for the Dems?

But I must say I did not like it when, yesterday, he said the economic meltdown is not a Republican or a Democratic problem. With all due respect, he’s wrong. It IS a Republican problem.

Thank you! That’s exactly what crossed my mind as soon as I heard Obama’s comments reported.

If you look back at the pattern of the last 100 years, Republicans screw things up and Democrats have to be the grown ups who step in and fix them.

Do you think his 13 cars are the reason he owns a parking lot worth over $1 million?

I have to disagree. The man’s marriage should be off-limits. I am a great admirer of Cindy McCain’s. My concern is not McCain’s relationship with his wife, it’s his relationship with George W. Bush.

Co-owns that parking lot — I believe that particular parking lot investment bonanza was purchased with the Keatings, if I remember correctly on that. *g*

CNN is reporting Breaking News that the House & Senate have reached a deal on the bailout and, in CNN’s words, “will take it to Treasury Secretary Paulson.”

I seriously doubt this. The most hopeful thing I heard was that Congress might OK an initial outlay of $150 billion and see how that goes. That is still an insane amount to give one of the principal creators of the current fiasco to play with. But in terms of re-regulation, price setting, mortgage refinancing, it looks more like Paulson stuck it to ordinary Americans.

Paul, thanks for joining us, and thanks Ari for the suitably playful intro.

I fear Barack is too big-hearted, letting them off too easy. What do you think?

I teach negotiation, and I’ve seen people like this before, who instinctively feel the balance of the universe is restored by compromise as a primary approach, even if the bargaining zone, the end points, are too far askew. They have trouble prioritizing what to fight for, and when, and when to walk away from a deal. Compromise is a tactic to close a deal, but not useful as a primary strategy or disposition, and not all deals should be closed.

Barack is not hopeless, but his first instincts seem to me to run this way, and it’s a problem. The need then is for the left to continue to strengthen itself and its institutions so that the goal posts can be more sanely recalibrated, so when Obama strikes a deal, it does not totally suck. This is the very dynamic in play on the bailout.

But we should get back to your book. . .!

Barack is a bit polite for my stomach, as well, but I think he is brilliant, so I trust there is a method to his…well you know…

It seems this whole $700B charade is being painted as a natural development in the markets that now demands some sort of Herculian response to save the economy, when if one looks closely, or just remembers why Eliot Spitzer was politically assassinated, it’s plain that the Bush Regime fully supported the fraudulent sub-prime predatory lending.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..02783.html
Predatory Lenders’ Partner in Crime
How the Bush Administration Stopped the States From Stepping In to Help
By Eliot Spitzer
Thursday, February 14, 2008; Page A25

Several years ago, state attorneys general and others involved in consumer protection began to notice a marked increase in a range of predatory lending practices by mortgage lenders. Some were misrepresenting the terms of loans, making loans without regard to consumers’ ability to repay, making loans with deceptive “teaser” rates that later ballooned astronomically, packing loans with undisclosed charges and fees, or even paying illegal kickbacks. These and other practices, we noticed, were having a devastating effect on home buyers. In addition, the widespread nature of these practices, if left unchecked, threatened our financial markets.

Even though predatory lending was becoming a national problem, the Bush administration looked the other way and did nothing to protect American homeowners. In fact, the government chose instead to align itself with the banks that were victimizing consumers.
continued at link above~

But rather than being tired or sick, I just think he’s out of touch.

One of the great lessons for those of us in the blogosphere is that Senators are surprisingly uninformed about some areas that they are supposed to be experts in. As for members of the House, ignorance and bigotry seem the norm.

So..now there are rumors all over the place…Palin will be yanked…McCain is ill…Biden will drop out…

Does this happen in all elections, or is the internet “telephone” factor?

Any truth to any of them?

There are only two Dems with blood on their hands re the Gramm-Leach-Bliley deregulation: Ernest Hollings (D-SC) and your old boss, President Clinton.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyo…..013/601053

I’m with you on Obama not being partisan enough on this issue, and I fear that under an Obama Administration the crimes of Bush, Inc. will not be aggressively investigated.

How do you feel about Obama’s position on 527s?

Hi, Christy. Big fan. I think Katie Couric did a great job interviewing Gov. Palin. Couric asked Palin to name a time, other than reining in Fannie and Freddie, when McCain has ever supported regulating business to protect consumers. It was, shall we say, awkward. When Gov. Palin looks into it, she’ll find that the reason she could not think of an example is because there are none.

Several of us here are concerned about McCain’s mental capabilities after years of being a lousy boxer, his time in captivity and his drinking. What are your thoughts on this?

Not to get off topic, but I would just like to point out how much better-looking you are than all the other TV pundits we see on the air these days.

Paul,
Do you think McCain will show for the debate?
If he does, will he appear to have blinked? If he does not, will he appaer to have blinked?
If he does not debate, how will that be handled? Will Obama be asked questions?

Over at EW’s place, bmaz notes that Charles Keating has some answers for Palin to give to Katie Couric.

Paul:
I was wondering your opinion on something. Do you believe, like I think most FDL’ers probably do, that bringing up his POW status as an answer for everything cheapens his own experience? Anyone I know that has been in a war never likes to talk about it. They might tell you different places they were at(like various bases they were stationed at), but they refuse to talk about the battles and related stuff. I think McCain cheapens his own experience by what he has done this election season.

To bring the conversation back to the book: In the chapter called “Health Care: The McCain Plan Won’t Even Cover McCain” you talk about how McCain’s plan would force Americans onto the private market for health insurance with no consumer protections.

Doesn’t this mean McCain’s health care policy isn’t like Bush’s — its in fact worse?

I have a vested interest. I was advising a 527 that was going to run ads linking Bush and McCain. We shut down when donors read news stories saying Sen. Obama disapproved of our efforts. We weren’t going to anything dirty — just basically make ads along the lines of the book: that McCain would be a Third Term of Bush. I’m not for unilateral disarmament. I believe in issue-based, hard-hitting, proactive, aggressive campaigning.

Did you ever think that McCain would pick a Veep nominee who’d get schooled by both Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric? Never in my wildest dreams…

I look forward to the author being a guest on the Daily Show. I think that the book will discuss what people already know but also further elaborate on highlighting all of the decisions that McCain has made in the past eight years that contradict his title being a maverick.

Evan
http://www.beyondrace.com

Thanks, sweetie. Good to know my wife is a loyal FDLer.

I have to disagree. The man’s marriage should be off-limits. I am a great admirer of Cindy McCain’s. My concern is not McCain’s relationship with his wife, it’s his relationship with George W. Bush.

I agree. I think that his womanizing, dumping the first wife, marrying the rich trophy wife, her drug problems, and the shabby way she treated her half-sister’s family should all be off limits.

I will be on Colbert Report Sept. 29. Have been unable to get on The Daily Show. I think Jon Stewart doesn’t like me – ever since he came on my show, Crossfire, and said I was hurting America. I have no apologies. I used my position on Crossfire to oppose Bush’s march to war when many of the bigshots even in my own party were for it. If I yelled a bit, I have no regrets. In fact, I wish I’d yelled a little more.

Still, even if Stewart doesn’t like me, I like him. The Daily Show and Colbert are indispensable for anyone who wants to get through the Bush era without going completely insane.

Bwahahahaha

Love the humor you showed on Bill Maher, BTW…!!!

Have you, personally, ever seen McCain’s temper?

RevBev…I think it’s fair…particularly relating to issues as to whether she has financially benefitted from McCain’s legislative acts and position as Chair of the Commerce Committee. Furthermore, as President he will weild tremendous power. Yet Cindy refuses to do little more than disclose how much she paid in taxes and how much she has given in charity. She refuses to yeild the fundamental data about her investments, partnerships and assets where real influence peddling could occur.

That’s precisely what got McCain caught in the Keating 5 scandal…his wife’s partnership and borrowing from Charles Keating. And McCain WAS influenced…asking the regulators to “back off” in their investigation. So just how deep is Cindy involved in this whole sub-prime real estate and credit mess?

Do you believe they are unnecessary this time? If not, is it too late to get some ads going? McCain is so rich with material for them.

McCain’s health plan would be savage. It would raise taxes on every family and small business (and even big business) that ties health benefits to work. It would give your family a $5,000 tax credit to buy a $12,000 insurance policy. That dog won’t hunt. And then, when your employer drops you, even if you have an extra 12 grand, you’ll likely not be able to get insurance if you have a pre-existing condition, like high cholesterol or high blood pressure or asthma or…say…melanoma, like John McCain.

Obama’s plan is so much better. He would take us almost all the way to universal coverage, save money, save lives and make us more productive. The contrast is dramatic.

Given what Letterman did to McCain last night, I suggest that if you have to cancel out on Colbert, you probably shouldn’t (a) do it at the last minute, (b)lie about why you’re dumping his show, and (c) have your own lie exposed by proceeding to appear live on national television with someone else instead of with him.

Colbert would really take that personally.

I worry that it’s too late – at least too late to start one up. We’re in the home stretch, where the airwaves are clogged and cluttered. That’s the bad news. The good news is, now is when candidate talent matters most. Barack is shining, and McCain is flopping around like a fish on a dock.

I wouldn’t cancel on Colbert for anything. Except maybe a Willie Nelson concert.

Sure. But I think it’s okay if he rips into bigshots. What’s scarier is how vicious and vindictive he’s been toward everyday people. I have a story in my book about a receptionist who stood up to him when he was ranting. Seven years later — seven years! — McCain was still trying to keep her from getting a job. That is scary.

The question is going to be: Will the Grover Norquist Starve-the-Beast Dream of the $700 billion (and more) heist kill all of Obama’s plans?

Didn’t he “suspend” his show? /s

lol…he’d understand that.

Welcome to the Lake, Mr. Begala. That’s interesting that you point out that you were on the segment with Tucker and Jon Stewart (it’s your show). That conversation is seared into my memory as a throwdown between Stewart and Carlson. I just went back to reread the transcript and you were actually encouraging Jon to make his point about the state of political discourse. Tucker was whining.

Hmmm. I think Jon should have you on. It would be an extremely interesting follow up. Maybe Jon doesn’t like being the story.

Too bad that it’s probably not too late for McCain forces to put up ads giving him credit for the bailout. He was in the general vicinity.

Thanks…there’s a way they are both part of some kind of cover up. And she complained about her treatment on The View even as she has made herself a public person. Topic for another day. Thanks

The other day I read that 77% of Obama’s ads last month were negative ads. Higher percentage than McSame’s. (But, of course, not nearly as mean spirited!) How do they dub something negative and equate it with the mean spirited ones run by the other camp?

Yes indeed. His actions of the past month have driven this home for those persons outside of Arizona.

Two different comedians. Two different audiences. Could be similar, tho. We’ll see.

Paul…my understanding is that there should be a lot of available TV ad space available now that the McCain-Palin Campaign has “suspended” their campaign and pulled their Commercials. They have pulled their commercials, haven’t they? ;-)

Good plug.

Paul @ 59

McCain’s health plan is the scariest part of his campaign. I cannot fathom the lengths that health insurers would go to “cleanse” their rolls of those with “conditions”.

I know a couple of actuaries who have left the employ of big insurers because of the cost/benefit scenarios they were asked to forecast. They could not live with the ethos of their companies’ tactics.

Talk about your mortal hazard re ignoring any public good. But wait, JSM has never really had to rely on “real” health insurance, has he?

Maybe you can explain to me why the media always portrays Republicans, like John McCain, as strong on national security and foreign affairs when they have been invariably and disastrously wrong about anything to do with either of these areas.

From his Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran to his inability to distinguish between Sunni and Shia to the Republican revisionist history of the surge to his nutty rug buying tour, his understanding of the Middle East seems pretty close to zero. On top of all this, he seems caught in a time warp where he is still fighting the Vietnam War in Iraq.

There are lots of celebrities at FDL. Woodward was here the otherday. Everyone was very nice to him and I am sure he will return.

Lot of people wondered what that super duper top secret weapons was, the won the Genocide in Irak

To me, one of the most amazing about-face moments of McCain’s political life has to be his lurch toward the TheoCons. In 2000, he labeled them the agents of intolerance; in 2008 he was so desperate for their support (even after getting the nomination) that he named their favorite anti-abortion poster girl as his VP.

The truth has a well known liberal bias so by definition has to be considered a negative ad against McCain.

McCain really does profile like a stalker.

McCain deserves credit for nothing and some share of the blame for ruining the economy. And if, heaven forfend, he became President, he would make Bush’s economic policies permanent. He didn’t think the Bush tax cuts should be temporary, but now he wants to make them permanent. That’s like marrying a girl you didn’t want to date. He wants to privatize Social Security, as Bush tried. He wants to eliminate all taxes on those who inherit vast wealth (can you say, self-interest?). He wants to cut taxes on corporations by over $1 trillion. If you think the economy sucks under Bush, just wait for Pres. McCain. We’ll be back to the feudal system.

Hoo Boy. You’re keeping your day job, right?

I’m totally sick to death of the “I don’t need it, I get it for free, so you can’t have it” stance of John Sidney McCain. I also believe Cindy knows more about money management than her husband.

POW means Puppet of Wallstreet.

Just a gentle reminder that, as always for book salons, let’s stay on the topic of the book being discussed, and take any off-topic discussions to the prior thread. Thanks!

Great point. The Bush-McCain war has not only killed or maimed countless hundreds of thousands, it has also made the mullahs in Iran more powerful. It’s given al Qaeda the time and space to regroup, re-equip, re-train and recruit. They’ve allowed the Taliban to become resurgent, they’ve failed to secure our ports, our power plants and more. Heck, they couldn’t even protect us from Mexican jalapenos that slipped across the border and attacked our intestines.

Obama’s plan is so much better. He would take us almost all the way to universal coverage, save money, save lives and make us more productive.

Obama’s plan is crap although McCain’s is even worse. Neither address the fundamentals of healthcare in America. Both go through the motions of doing something while leaving the current system with its overpriced and unequal care in place.

I like your use of “forfend.” That’s not a word that gets used a lot these days.

True, McCain gets it free, but Cindy can well afford to buy it for her little man too. Honestly, the rest of us suffer when really rich Republics control the government.

Once again I find myself asking, what taxes on corporations. My understanding is that 60% of all corporations do not have to pay taxes because they have found some loophole or expenditures to buffer against their payment of taxes!

McCain is flopping around like a fish on a dock.

Great image, the past 24 hours I can’t get the image of Yul Brenner as the malfunctioning robot cowboy from Westworld out of my mind every time I see McCain apparently having a short circuit.

In terms of McSame, which of the lobbying interests has the most influence in his campaign? And, God forbid, if he wins, who will expect the most payback?

Christy, you’re great. And speaking of which, I think too many of us have been distracted by the whole Palin thing. I’d rather focus on what the choice says about McCain. How, as one person above noted, it’s an example of McCain courting the far right. How, just like Bush, McCain acted impulsively, without facts, going with his “gut.” Choosing Gov. Palin was, I maintain, a classically Bushian move.

Mr. Begala
Sorry I didn’t get a chance to read your book yet but just ordered it. Wanted to ask who you think McCain would name to his cabinet.

What ever happened to Vicki Iseman???

OT – The two campaigners are getting ready to meet with the president on the bail out bill. What would you hope the Dem Candidate to say? Short version, of course. I mean, if you were wearing an Obama costume, what would you say to Mr. Bush?

Wow, Westworld. What a blast from the past. I’ve gotta rent that for my kids. You’re right, it does look like McCain is short circuiting.

Heck, they couldn’t even protect us from Mexican jalapenos that slipped across the border and attacked our intestines.

Oy! Hehe!

Of all the polls, which one or ones do you have the most faith in?

To me, one of the most amazing about-face moments of McCain’s political life has to be his lurch toward the TheoCons.

I would have to say it was his flip flop on torture and his failure to support a bill that would have forced the CIA to follow the guidelines of the Army Field Manual, i.e. no waterboarding or other forms of torture.

We talked about that just after Palin was selected — how it was a sort of de facto veto power that he picked her given that Dobson and his theocratic pals rejected the possibility of a Lieberman Veep nod. Honestly, hasn’t this country had enough of a president kowtowing to all the farthest right elements of the GOP? Look how well that’s worked out for all of us who aren’t dragging a ginormous golden parachute behind us this week…

(And Paul, you are being too good to me. *blush*)

If I could script Barack for the meeting, I’d make it an intervention – the way loved ones try to rescue, say, an alcoholic. Bush and McCain need a reality sandwich. They’ve had 8 years to pass their program, and the results are all around us. I’d say, Mr. President, you and your right-wing philosophy has made America poorer, sicker, dumber, angrier, dirtier, more divided and more vulnerable. Other than that, heck of a job, Bushie.

Paul, where is Lieberman? Still traveling with McCain? Since the convention he has been out of sight.

Um, tell us what you really think. *g*

Democracy Corps, run by my old pals Stan Greenberg and James Carville, is great. If anything, they tend to be more conservative (that is, less Democratic in their sample) than many media polls. Greenberg has done polling for Pres. Clinton, Nelson Mandela, Al Gore and Tony Blair. And Carville is the greatest strategist of my lifetime. Their polls and analysis can be found at http://www.democracycorps.org

Thanks Mr. B. May I say I miss seeing you on Crossfire, but, dear, stacked up against those other three, you looked even more fabulous.
Thanks for your time today.

btw Go Sooners

“I’d say, Mr. President, you and your right-wing philosophy has made America poorer, sicker, dumber, angrier, dirtier, more divided and more vulnerable.”

Well…that just about sums the whole shebang up in one sentence.

You betcha.

I love the cover art of your book BTW, though I haven’t had the chance to read it yet.

I wonder though, if I wrote my own book about the McCain campaign, would I be infringing on any copyrights if I called it “Turd Therm – the steaming pile we’ll get if we elect McCain.”?

What do you think of the politics of House Republicans stonewalling this bailout deal…It’s looking like Boehner and Co are trying to run out the clock on the debate to give McCain cover for chickening out of showing up.

Lieberman was there today to greet McCain as he walked MacArthur-like into the Senate building.

Do you worry about the election being stolen?

Ugggh. I can’t join you there. Although David Boren has been a great president of OU, I am a diehard Longhorn. My Horns are playing Arkansas this weekend. I need to bet a barbecue dinner with my old boss, the former governor of Arkansas.

Hook ‘em, and thanks, FDL! This was fun. I hope you’ll have me back as a guest. I know I’ll continue to return as a loyal reader.

Paul

How *could* I have overlooked that one?

Yet another sign of McCain’s devotion to the Bush way — whatever I have to say to win and hold power. Bush had his switch from “no nation building” in the 2000 debate with Gore to the “gotta do regime change in Iraq to create democracy” as well as his no government intervention policies of the last 7 years to “Sure, we’ll toss Wall Street $700,000,000,000.00″

Paul, in your research for the book, what was your favorite moment of McCain abandoning his publicly voiced principles in order to advance his political ambition?

James Carville strikes me as a caricature of a caricature of a political operator. Has he been right about anything in the last 8 years?

Come back any time — and mix it up in the comments once in a while, too!

Paul, Thank you for stopping by the Lake today and discussing your book.

Ari, Thank you for Hosting this great Book Salon.

Everyone, this is a must book, if you haven’t bought one yet, there is a link above.

Thanks all.

Thanks Paul, and Ari!

As always, another great Book Salon!

Lieberman was there today to greet McCain as he walked MacArthur-like into the Senate building.

Lieberman was probably just there to make sure he could still find his way into the place considering he has almost never seen the inside of the Senate in the last two years.

OK to go OT now that Begala is gone?

“I have great, great confidence in our capital markets and in our financial institutions. Our financial institutions, banks and investment banks, are strong. Our capital markets are resilient. They’re efficient. They’re flexible.”

– Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, March 16, 2008

“Our policy in this administration — laws shouldn’t bail out lenders, laws shouldn’t help speculators.”

– President Bush, May 19, 2008

“Our economy has continued growing, consumers are spending, business are investing, exports continue increasing and American productivity remains strong. We can have confidence in the long-term foundation of our economy…I think the system basically is sound. I truly do.”

– President Bush, July 15, 2008

Shelby’s on CNBC. Worried about doing this in emotional moment. Rush to judgement. Worried about putting $700 billion into unpriceable assets (in repsonse to a Q about reverse auction). Going to bring these concerns up at WH.

Nonetheless thinks there’ll be a deal before the weekend but it will be the wrong thing. Was also against the stimulus package.

Geez, anybody can get a few things wrong. “g”

New CHS post