Maybe it would be better if Cranky McCrankypants just disappeared for a while, and reemerged a few days (or even a week or two) from now to swoop in with some brilliant attack ad that's effective and actually warranted, unlike everything else he's been for months.
Seriously, think about it: it worked for him after his staff began bailing on him in the primary runup; then he did some soul searching, stripped everything away that wasn't working, and bit by bit, built himself back into a winner and took the New Hampshire primary like a force of nature.
Because this "transcript," our memory of tonight's debate, shows you why his recent strategy/tactics aren't working for him...
TRANSLATED TRANSCRIPT:
McCain: Thank you, my friends. My friends, my friends always say to me, "When the conversation gets rough, my friends, and there is no Republican talking point that can get you out of one of those pesky 'questions' asked by fascist scoundrels like Katie Couric and Tom Brokaw, just switch the subject back to 'energy independence,' and talk about how our country should have independence from oversight by nuclear regulatory committees. My friends, this is the only way."
Obama: I need to resp--
Brokaw: You're not allowed to respond.
Obama: But-- but--
Brokaw: Back to you McCain before Obama embarrasses himself by continuing to break the rules of the debate and look like the whiner Sean Hannity knows he is. Senator McCain, can you explain to me why the Keating Five scandal was once called your greatest error, to paraphrase you, and is now referred to you as total batshit crazy talk?
McCain: Well, my friends, the Keating Four were my friends. My friends, I want to talk to you about energy independence...
Obama: Tom, Tom! Can I--
Brokaw: Let's go to another totally boring, irrelevant, and uninspiring, vetted audience member to ask the next question...
And so on, until we all vote Bob Barr... because this kind of debate just bores us to tears...
-2:01am, after Scanner alumnus Bobby Tisdale's debate watch party & subsequent Scanner Emily-book-release-celebration drinks
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