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Countdown Wednesday: Veep Impact

Posted: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 8:59 PM by Countdown
Filed Under:

Anyone But Cheney:  The Vice Presidential drama -- or comedy -- may yet be overshadowed by an almost off-hand response to a questioner, made by Senator McCain today at Las Cruces, New Mexico, in which he appeared to tacitly endorse the idea of reinstating the military draft. In our fifth story on the Countdown: that sea change has not happened thus so. Thus, full coverage of McCain's comment presently.  First, the only shred of fact in the giant, undulating, self-inflating balloon of cotton candy that is the VP talk: Senator Obama has confirmed he will not choose... Dick Cheney.

A Lie in Lieberman:  A flurry of reports this week leave us with two options today... Either John McCain is really considering naming a pro-choice, pro-gay rights, pro-gun control, registered Democrat as the Republican vice-presidential candidate...  Or the straight-talk maverick is lying to his own party for his own political advantage. Our fourth story tonight... McCain fuels his number-two speculation... pro-choice bipartisanship... or pure political ploy?

ODDBALL: A barista tosses some hot water in a customer's face and a monkey on the run.

BackDraft:  It was prompted by a long and agonized question from the mother of a wounded soldier... She weaved her way through several contexts -- health care in the service, health care for undocumented workers, the candidate's promise to pursue Bin Laden. Nevertheless, when the woman at the McCain event in Las Cruces, New Mexico, today came to her point, that the way we are treating our soldiers now, the only way we'll have enough of them is to reinstitute the draft...  John McCain said he agreed with everything she had said. Our third story on the Countdown: that includes that little P-S about introducting selective service -- the draft -- during a possible McCain administration.

Worsties...see below.

WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD: Mitt Romney, Rush Limbaugh and Billo vie for tonight's top honors.
 
Veepstake Platter:  We may never know whether the successful dumping of logs... and the discussion of same... has helped or hurt the V-P chances of Senator Joe Biden... And... whether Senator Joe Lieberman... wants Senator John McCain... to start quacking. But in our number one story on the Countdown... with the Vice-Presidential sweepstakes peaking... We offer some helpful advice, presently. First, a very brief re-cap.

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Comments

After watching Keith's interview with Chris Kofinis, I realized that Sen. McCain does not want to be President, he simply wants to be Commander-in-Chief.

CT, Williamsburg, VA (Sent Wednesday, August 20, 2008 9:06 PM)

Nader is getting plenty of mileage with his comments about Clinton.  Someone should ask Bob Barr whom he thinks McCain will choose.   I'd like to see Barr get a lot more press coverage.   Obviously, there is liberal bias in the press when it comes to covering spoilers....OR....could it be?...a conservative conspiracy to help Nader pull more votes from the liberal candidate???    

G N, Norman, OK (Sent Wednesday, August 20, 2008 9:20 PM)

Barack needs to win back his base, and an Obama/Kennedy ticket would do the trick. Caroline Kennedy as his VP would bring back the enchantment.

Mark M, Seattle, Wash. (Sent Wednesday, August 20, 2008 10:10 PM)

I find it sad that given the  performance of the previous administration, so many voters seem to be falling for the usual GOP fear campaign,and flip-flopping to the point that Obama needs a heavyweight pick for V.P. when it should have been a no-brainer,Democrat cakewalk into the White House.

Steve Ramsay, Marlborough NH (Sent Wednesday, August 20, 2008 10:15 PM)

Somehow, Lincoln's "one war at a time" statement (Nov 1861) keeps popping into my mind.

I'd like McCain to address Obama's supposed lack of judgment as compared to the wisdom of Lincoln. It would be pretty funny if it weren't so incredibly serious.

ek, mpls mn (Sent Wednesday, August 20, 2008 10:56 PM)

Allan Havey! Keith had Allan Havey on the show!  God Bless you, Keith.

Karen, SA,TX (Sent Wednesday, August 20, 2008 11:07 PM)

why is half of america so hot on Mc Cain ?? wasn't he running against Bush 8 years ago in the reps primeries and lost ?? does that mean he is not as 'good' as Bush and was only 2nd choice ?? oh my..fasten your seatbelt america you are in for a ride then.

Dan Huerlimann (Sent Wednesday, August 20, 2008 11:34 PM)

With just days before the vice-presidential announcements, the political conventions and the final sprint to Election Day, Republican Sen. John McCain has cut Democrat Sen. Barack Obama’s national lead in half. To quote the DNC Chairman this week "We are now just starting to see the begining of the end"

Mike J Walsh, Pitt, PA (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 12:26 AM)

watch the campaign tell us again that the candidate did NOT speak for the campaign in regards to the re-institution of the draft. he was having ANOTHER senior moment where he thought that he would be in charge. AREN'T WE ALL TIRED OF SOMEONE THINKING THEY ARE IN CHARGE WHEN IN REALITY THEY REALLY ARE NOT?

PAUL (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 12:48 AM)

I hope that McCain's reaction to a "possible military draft" gets some traction. I always thought that he might decide to do that if, heaven forbid, he was elected President. The word needs to get out.
P.S. Congrats Rachel!!

Carol Apache Junction, Arizona (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 1:51 AM)

McCain can't tell how many houses he owns, and Obama can't tell how many states there are in the USA. Which is worse???  PS for you liberals, the answer is not 57! lol

MIchelle, Charlotte,NC (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 3:03 PM)

Keith, I may be an old grey haired guy from Kansas but when it comes to a choice of Rachel Maddow or Rush Limbaugh it is not a contest.

Doctor Maddow, she's got a PHd, provides insightful and thoughtful perspective on world issues.  I am pleased that she has her own show.

What's the opposite of a "ditto-head" well that would be a thinking person, the kind that will watch Rachel.

Mike Box Osawtomie, Kansas (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 3:26 PM)

I hope that McCain's reaction to a "possible military draft" gets some traction. I always thought that he might decide to do that if, heaven forbid, he was elected President. The word needs to get out.
P.S. Congrats Rachel!!
Carol Apache Junction, Arizona (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 1:51 AM)

The possibility of a millitary draft is none and none. Neither the millitary nore the American people or either candidate will evere endorse a drart. the words spoken by Mccain were quoted out of content and not substance, by simply agreeing to a question that something needed to be done to support the US Millitary

RIK (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 4:02 PM)

Dem Veep best choices:
Biden
Gore
Gens Clark or Powell

VOTE ABSENTEE !

Howard, Northern VA (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 4:36 PM)

Why do I keep hoping at the end of the day I will see Rod Serling's image and be comforted in knowing all this "McSpin" is only a dream??
Congratulations Rachel-looking forward to your ashow!

Sandy, Bermuda Dunes, CA (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 7:07 PM)

Michelle, NC we do have 57 states and territory.
You know how to google right?

lea,fredericksburg,va (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 8:43 PM)

It was in 1974 that the draft ended along with Vietnam. I remember watching TV to hear the announcements of the draft numbers. Scary times.
I don't know if the young people of today (18-25) or so, even realize what "draft" refers to and if not, let them know, Keith O.
McCain seems to be obsessed with war. He would be the ruin of this country.
GO OBAMA - WIN!

Letty, Kingsbury, TX (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:33 PM)

Hey Keith,I think McCain would trade all 7 homes in for one big White one.He won' have though,he'll just make it lucky 8 in 2008.

jeff h ,atlanta,ga. (Sent Thursday, August 21, 2008 10:30 PM)



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