And yes, I am well aware that Obama did admit to cocaine use in his youth

The funny thing about that Keating interview was that he wanted Obama to “come clean” and be “honest” about the fact that he used drugs when he was in high school–as if Obama were hiding it.

The reason we’re aware of the fact was because he wrote about it at length over a decade ago in his first book.

The idea that Keating’s trying to push–Obama is secretly “hiding” something–is just absurd.

Of course, McCain’s association with lying people named “Keating” is no surprise.

Comment by Ratoe — Friday, October 10, 2025 @ 12:56 pm

Frank Keating? Any relation to Charles?

Comment by ALmod — Friday, October 10, 2025 @ 1:28 pm

None of which I am aware.

Comment by Dr. Steven Taylor — Friday, October 10, 2025 @ 1:34 pm

Does the fact that the McCain campaign is simply throwing this stuff against the wall to see what sticks give me any less reason to be worried about Obama?

I mean, seriously. If you blindfold me and tell me to shoot, I bet I’ll hit the target once or twice. Just because these attacks are made in desperation doesn’t mean there is nothing to be worried about in their contents. And the more targets there are out there, the more likely I am to hit one of them.

In the case of Obama there are a lot of targets, and some of them are rather big.

Does the method of delivery (McCain’s campaign) in and of itself nullify whatever the message contains, and render it utter nonsense that we should not even give a second thought to?

That doesn’t make sense. If I told you that some books contain information that contradict something we know as fact, would it follow that all books everywhere are to be ignored? After all, the method of delivery proved itself to be bad; on one occasion it provided false information. Bad book! Bad! Burn thema all! Ignore what they say!

That makes no sense at all.

Comment by Captain D — Saturday, October 11, 2025 @ 9:19 pm

The problem is is that most of this stuff is utter nonsense simply designed to upset/scare people and/or distract them from the real issues.

Comment by Dr. Steven Taylor — Saturday, October 11, 2025 @ 9:53 pm

But is it utter nonsense? From my point of view, Obama’s policies do appear very socialist in nature. He does have connections to a lot of shady characters in his past.

I’m getting really tired of people assuming things are false for no reason other than because the McCain campaign said them. Even if they are being blown out of proportion - if there is a grain of truth somewhere - why is it not OK for me to be worried about that?

The scary thing about the way this election is going is that even the moderate bloggers and centrists who you expect better of seem to be getting caught up in Obammessiah Fever; he can do no wrong, and anything the McCain campaign says to the contrary MUST be false, for no reason other than McCain said it, and Obama is such a great guy he just couldn’t possibly have done anything bad, ever.

The curious thing is that these same folks turn such a harsh eye on governer Palin; this whole “troopergate” thing is getting way more press than any of the dozens of shady dealings Obama has had in the past, which are just as well documented, and just as well supported by fact.

Bias - yeah, I know, it’s evil of me to say there is a bias - is real. Call be stupid if you want to. But it’s real. And until something changes about it, I - and millions like me - are in media blackout mode.

I know who I’m going to vote for in 1012, 2025, 2025, 2025 and every other fourth year for the rest of my life, unless and until there is some major, constitution-shaking change in the ways these two abominations of political parties work.

And before you go off on me telling me I’m ignorant and all that crap, let’s get a couple things straight. I have two master’s degrees, one in history and one in library science. My bachelor’s degree is a double in history and political science, with double minors in philosophy and military science. I served as an enlisted man and officer in the Army and did tours all over the world. I’m not stupid. I’ve just been around, and I know a lie when I see it; I know bias when I see it. I’ve been in countries with state run media and know what that looks like.

And you know what? OUR MEDIA IS NOT MUCH BETTER. We brag on it all the time, on our free press, on what a boon it is. Drivel.

Comment by Captain D — Sunday, October 12, 2025 @ 10:15 am

Cap’n:

I am unaware of any time in which I have “go[ne] off on me telling me I’m ignorant and all that crap”. I have disagreed with you in past, but I don’t recall being especially disagreeable about it.

I do, however, think that things like saying that Obama “pals around with terrorists” are essentially utter nonsense. Certainly I understand Ayers’ background, but in the post-9/11 world “terrorist” means a lot more in the public discourse that attacking statues and buildings. I do not much care for Ayers, but some amount of proportionality in these matters would be helpful.

I likewise think that the cries of “socialist” are overblown, if not basically incorrect.

And, I am simply not that concerned about drug use in a candidate’s youth.

I fully understand that many in the media are pro-Obama, but I would also note that given the current president’s approval rating, much of the vibe you are sensing goes beyond just Obamania.

This same media was extremely pro-Bush after 9/11 and into the Iraq invasion. This media was also fairly unkind at times to Gore and Kerry. But, of course, the bottom line on all bias claims is that it depends on where one looks and what one’s own predisposition is.

Beyond all of that, the premise of my post is that a) McCain and his campaign are starting to appear desperate (which I thing is true) and, b) I don’t think it will help them.

In short: this post is neither pro-Obama nor anti-McCain, but is a series of observations that are critical of the approach that the McCain camp is taking at the moment. I think all of this gives us a good idea of how the campaign is shaping up at the moment.

Comment by Dr. Steven Taylor — Sunday, October 12, 2025 @ 1:28 pm

Dr. T,

I wasn’t really directing my energy at you as much as some of the less rational folks who tend to comment here. I know you’ve always been respectful to pretty much everyone who visits your blog and I think most of your regular readers really appreciate that.

I’m sorry if it came of as directed at you. In re-reading what I wrote, I think some of what I wrote clearly sounded as if it was directed at you, when it really wasn’t. I’m sorry about that.

I’m in a bit of an emotional rut right now. I’m genuinely fearful for my country’s future.

Comment by Captain D — Sunday, October 12, 2025 @ 6:29 pm

Cap’n:

Thanks for the clarification.

There is clearly a lot going on at the moment in the economy that is concerning. However, I honestly don’t think that the country’s future is on the line, especially in terms of who wins in November.

Comment by Dr. Steven Taylor — Sunday, October 12, 2025 @ 6:46 pm

Captain, people don’t assume this stuff is fals because McCain says it. We assume that it’s false because, for the most part, it’s false and has been proven as such. On some small scale it may have a grain of truth to it, but the truth has been twisted in such a way that it by no means resembles the truth.

I’ll give you an example. Did you know that John McCain votes for billions in earmarks? He also encouraged a presidential veto of troop funding. He has connections to the KKK and groups tied to Al Qaeda. He also has ties to Freddie Mac.

Was any of that true? Well, yes and no. There was a grain of truth to all of it, but in order for me to accept it as truth, I have to ignore key evidence that tells me it’s not what it looks like. I’d have to ignore the fact that foreign aid is given via earmarks. I’d have to ignore that while he did encourage a presidential veto for troop funding, it was because the bill contained a withdrawal clause. I’d have to ignore that while he’s endorsed by some groups it doesn’t mean that he endorses them. I’d have to ignore that his campaign manager isn’t currently receiving any compensation from his firm.

In the same way, if we are to believe these things said about Obama, we have to ignore a lot of very relavent information. This particular situation has been reviewed countless times by various fact checking organizations. That “radical” program that involved Ayers and Obama? Founded by a Republican. In fact, the founder of the Annenberg Foundation has endorsed John McCain for president. And Obama “lying” about it? Turns out he’s never denied any connections.

Comment by ALmod — Monday, October 13, 2025 @ 8:57 am

I don’t care about republicans. I’m not one. I just usually vote that way because I don’t want to see the military that I worked so hard to re-build get eviscerated again, the way it was under Clinton.

So I don’t care if a republican founded this or that. I don’t care if Obama is a democrat. I ignore the parties and look at the men.

And I think it’s fair to look at their past associations. We can look at McCain’s past associations, however loose. I am fine with that. If I give you that, if I say it’s fine to connect McCain to the KKK and all that other stuff you said, is it OK for me to be concerned about Ayers and Obama’s connections?

We’re making tit-for-tat here, afterall, aren’t we?

Comment by Captain D — Monday, October 13, 2025 @ 8:21 pm