Will the MSM give McCain a pass tonight?

[Stevendsmith]

No matter how poorly he does?

I can hear them now:

"With all the speculation of how McCain would perform tonight, word on the beltway is he performed remarkably well. Some are saying this is a new McCain and he clearly was on his game tonight."

[tekisui]

1. Nah, that worm turned. George Will lead the way.

It'll be dogpile on the rabbit.

[GrizzlyMan]

4. I agree

I think the inclination if he does poorly (a virtual certainty) will be to pile on.

[SoonerPride]

2. Of course. Unless McCain has a stroke and dies on stage, everyone will say he was great

He's been so distracted what with saving the world and all, who could blame him for getting a few major facts wrong, mumbling, getting angry and pooping himself on national TV?

[tekisui]

10. I think the media generally is not for him anymore.

The past two weeks have been dreadful for him, and I believe he is beyond the point of redemption. When conservative commentators are calling him out and fux poll has him at 39%, he is on life support, and there will be no resuscitation.

[chelsea0011]

3. Sure will. He is already showing leadership by saving the debate.

[butterfly77]

5. Yes. Don't they always.

Now that the debate is on the media is trying to portray McCain as a hero,this is what he was trying to do with that stunt..

[Catshrink]

6. We should have a lottery or pool to predict how many times

McChicken says POW tonight.

[nomaco-10]

12. or fighter jet pilot. n/t

[Peregrine Took]

7. Once more the rethugs run a cunning dunderhead = "low expectations"

Then if the aforementioned "dunderhead" survives at any level - whew! - he or she does MUCH BETTER than anyone expected.

On the other hand, the intelligent, informed Democratic candidate (Dukakis, Gore, Kerry) only did "alright."

[NatBurner]

8. he has SOO much on his plate right now

he's spearheading the surge and the bailout and his masterfully managed campaign-

he'll win just for showing up.


and i refuse to use that insipid sarcasm tag

[nomaco-10]

9. Of course they will. He will remind them all tonight...

that he is a bonafide war hero who almost gave his life for his country and then he'll pull out his dog tags and ask if they'd like to touch them.

[southpaw]

11. The MSM must maintain the appearance that there is still a 'horse race'

Right now, that means propping up McCain regardless.

I hope I'm wrong.

[librechik]

13. I dunno--where I work the skepticism is thick enough to cut with a knife

and I'm hearing the same trend , even from Fox! (sometimes)

[subterranean]

14. He'll get credit just for showing up (if he shows up).

That's how much he's lowered expectations. And if he does poorly, well, the excuse will be that he was tired from working on the financial crisis and didn't have time to prepare.

[TheDonkey]

15. McClown already has the banner ads up and running. You'd better believe it

[FloridaGrl]

16. Yes

they always do. Obama isn't that good with oneliners as I heard someone saying on CNN; and as we know if you can't do oneliners you aren't fit to be president of the United States.

[Fleshdancer]

17. NO. They're over his ridiculous tricks and media smearing.

You can only insult the media for so long before it comes back to bite you on the ass.

[invictus]

18. They always give McGramps a pass. His whole campaign is one big pass.

nt

[Nia Zuri]

19. Yes. Here's what they'll say...

"McCain did whata he had to do. He was decisive and forceful. He came across with passion and displayed real leadership on the issues. He managed to cancelled out these last few days of bad press. I think this is a game changer. On the Other hand, Obama appeared to measured. His answers were somewhat vague. He just didn't seem to connect. Why can't he close the deal. this was his big chance to put foward his foregn affairs credentials and I don't hink he quite achieved that." How's that?

[Stevendsmith]

23. Are you trying to make me blow a gasket?!!

Your scenario is all too plausible.

Ugh!!!!

[Overseas]

20. If by MSM you mean the corporate media, yes they are still in right wing hands

so they will do their best to give Johnny any little praise they can. If he can just manage to be coherent they'll say he was brilliant.

Obama will be expected to do beautifully, so they'll focus mostly on the weak areas of his performance.



==================================

I hope veterans in the audience jangle their keys to protest McSame's poor voting record on veterans' benefits.

[Warren Stupidity]

21. Letterman screwed that pooch.

Late night has made Grand Master McStunt into a farce. Some of the media-clowns will attempt a salvage of course, but I predict EPIC FAIL.

[KansDem]

22. I'll wait to hear National Palin Radio's Cokie Roberts' assessment tomorrow...

You know, the one who brought us the "Bush Charm Offensive" stories of 2000? I'm sure she'll be all gaga over McCain...

[TheKentuckian]

24. Expectations for Obama are weirdly high

The media is being odd at this point, they aren't lying as much as we've grown accustomed to seeing but they seem to have an insistent on being neutral regardless of facts.

I tend to think they will prop up McHoover just because polling expects Obama to win pretty overwhelmingly.