Amusing line regarding Obama's computer savvy ad

[Spock]

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plan ... w-ads.aspx

Apparently Obama has an ad campaign pointing out that McCain can't e-mail or use a computer or something in that general vein.

Comment I saw asked if Obama can fly a navy jet?

[Sir_Galahad]

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plan ... w-ads.aspx

Apparently Obama has an ad campaign pointing out that McCain can't e-mail or use a computer or something in that general vein.

Comment I saw asked if Obama can fly a navy jet?

What's even more amusing is that, I believe, the president does not use email, for obvious security (and other) reasons.

I had heard that GWB was a real fanatic email user and has been stymied by his not being able to send email.

[Spock]

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/? ... NjNjkxZmM=

I have read more about this in the blogosphere and this ad campaign might blow back big-time on Obama.

Apparently, his war-time injuries make it difficult/impossible to operate a keyboard and such.

You would think the internet Whizkids over at the Obama camapign would have thought to some internet research on why he does not e-mail.

If true-I attribute the gaffe to a general lack of diversified life experience of staffers at the Obama Campaign. (symbolic of the candidate, himself).

If not true-The campaign still appears to be a bad choice-because you push away older voters (and they vote).

[Thousandaire]

What's even more amusing is that, I believe, the president does not use email, for obvious security (and other) reasons.

The Governor of Alaska should heed that advice.

Oops, too late.

[minimetoo26]

The campaign still appears to be a bad choice-because you push away older voters (and they vote).

My most prolific email buddy is 85 years old. Sharp dude. He figured out these new-fangled computer contraptions real quicklike.

[KillerTomato]

I had heard that GWB was a real fanatic email user and has been stymied by his not being able to send email.

Nah, it's not a matter of security, really. It's just that Shrub kept getting these Nigerian penpals, and running up a HUGE debt....in the trillions, no less.

Or maybe it was because the penpal kept trying to sell W. a pile a stuff about WMDs in some Middle Eastern country that DIDN'T have anything to do with 9/11.

Or maybe it was because the only site in his Favorites was the online text for "My Pet Goat".

(Lest you think I've escaped the Lounge, note that this post is a Bush-Slam, which doesn't count.)

[Sir_Galahad]

I had heard that GWB was a real fanatic email user and has been stymied by his not being able to send email.

Nah, it's not a matter of security, really. It's just that Shrub kept getting these Nigerian penpals, and running up a HUGE debt....in the trillions, no less.

Or maybe it was because the penpal kept trying to sell W. a pile a stuff about WMDs in some Middle Eastern country that DIDN'T have anything to do with 9/11.

Or maybe it was because the only site in his Favorites was the online text for "My Pet Goat".

(Lest you think I've escaped the Lounge, note that this post is a Bush-Slam, which doesn't count.)

Slam away, my friend. I did not vote for W either time so I do not feel offended a'tall.

[minimetoo26]

I had heard that GWB was a real fanatic email user and has been stymied by his not being able to send email.

Nah, it's not a matter of security, really. It's just that Shrub kept getting these Nigerian penpals, and running up a HUGE debt....in the trillions, no less.

Or maybe it was because the penpal kept trying to sell W. a pile a stuff about WMDs in some Middle Eastern country that DIDN'T have anything to do with 9/11.

Or maybe it was because the only site in his Favorites was the online text for "My Pet Goat".

(Lest you think I've escaped the Lounge, note that this post is a Bush-Slam, which doesn't count.)

Slam away, my friend. I did not vote for W either time so I do not feel offended a'tall.

Well, I'm offended that just because I can't fly a Navy jet, there are some who would think I am somewhat of a lesser human being...

[mellytu74]

I've watched the ad twice now.

Nowhere does it say John McCain can't use a keyboard.

It's that he hasn't bothered to learn new technology.

There has been voice-actived software for computers for at least 10 years now.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_h ... _n19948301

I know our old neighbor -- now in a one-story house with a wheelchair ramp because of ALS -- sends email to my 91 year old mother via such software.

The point of the ad is that John McCain is out of touch. He isn't even interested in learning new technology.

It's not that he can't.

It's that he won't.

How can someone who refuses to change with the times lay claim to the mantle of change, as McCain has seized upon.

Jonah Goldberg -- and what a neutral observer HE is in all of this -- is blowing smoke for his own purposes.

In fact, I'd like to see where John McCain stands on funding the new technology for low-income people who can't afford it.

[Bob Juch]

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plan ... w-ads.aspx

Apparently Obama has an ad campaign pointing out that McCain can't e-mail or use a computer or something in that general vein.

Comment I saw asked if Obama can fly a navy jet?

McCain wasn't real good at flying a Navy jet either.

[Sir_Galahad]

The point of the ad is that John McCain is out of touch. He isn't even interested in learning new technology.

It's not that he can't.

It's that he won't.

So, you're saying that because he can't (or won't) use a computer that he's out of touch? In fact, I know several people that don't know how to use a computer but have told me that have no need to use one. They have other things that fill up their spare time. And, I would not call them out of touch, either. I think that's a weak argument.

[mellytu74]

The point of the ad is that John McCain is out of touch. He isn't even interested in learning new technology.

It's not that he can't.

It's that he won't.

So, you're saying that because he can't (or won't) use a computer that he's out of touch? In fact, I know several people that don't know how to use a computer but have told me that have no need to use one. They have other things that fill up their spare time. And, I would not call them out of touch, either. I think that's a weak argument.

Sir G --

I was pointing out that Jonah Goldberg's argument was bogus.

John McCain's injuries at the hands of the Viet Cong have no bearing on whether or not he can use a computer.

As far as anything else, whatever I say, you will disagree with, so I see no point in continuing this discussion.

[Spock]

I've watched the ad twice now.

Nowhere does it say John McCain can't use a keyboard.

It's that he hasn't bothered to learn new technology.

There has been voice-actived software for computers for at least 10 years now.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_h ... _n19948301

I know our old neighbor -- now in a one-story house with a wheelchair ramp because of ALS -- sends email to my 91 year old mother via such software.

The point of the ad is that John McCain is out of touch. He isn't even interested in learning new technology.

It's not that he can't.

It's that he won't.

How can someone who refuses to change with the times lay claim to the mantle of change, as McCain has seized upon.

Jonah Goldberg -- and what a neutral observer HE is in all of this -- is blowing smoke for his own purposes.

In fact, I'd like to see where John McCain stands on funding the new technology for low-income people who can't afford it.

Apparently the ad is based on a false premise anyway, (that he has not bothered to learn new technologies) here is a link to a Forbes article on the internet portion of the 2000 McCain Campaign.

http://www.forbes.com/asap/2000/0529/053_print.html

Pull quote-

"In certain ways, McCain was a natural Web candidate. Chairman of the Senate Telecommunications Subcommittee and regarded as the U.S. Senate's savviest technologist, McCain is an inveterate devotee of email. His nightly ritual is to read his email together with his wife, Cindy. The injuries he incurred as a Vietnam POW make it painful for McCain to type. Instead, he dictates responses that his wife types on a laptop. "She's a whiz on the keyboard, and I'm so laborious," McCain admits."

[mellytu74]

I've watched the ad twice now.

Nowhere does it say John McCain can't use a keyboard.

It's that he hasn't bothered to learn new technology.

There has been voice-actived software for computers for at least 10 years now.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_h ... _n19948301

I know our old neighbor -- now in a one-story house with a wheelchair ramp because of ALS -- sends email to my 91 year old mother via such software.

The point of the ad is that John McCain is out of touch. He isn't even interested in learning new technology.

It's not that he can't.

It's that he won't.

How can someone who refuses to change with the times lay claim to the mantle of change, as McCain has seized upon.

Jonah Goldberg -- and what a neutral observer HE is in all of this -- is blowing smoke for his own purposes.

In fact, I'd like to see where John McCain stands on funding the new technology for low-income people who can't afford it.

Apparently the ad is based on a false premise anyway, (that he has not bothered to learn new technologies) here is a link to a Forbes article on the internet portion of the 2000 McCain Campaign.

http://www.forbes.com/asap/2000/0529/053_print.html

Pull quote-

"In certain ways, McCain was a natural Web candidate. Chairman of the Senate Telecommunications Subcommittee and regarded as the U.S. Senate's savviest technologist, McCain is an inveterate devotee of email. His nightly ritual is to read his email together with his wife, Cindy. The injuries he incurred as a Vietnam POW make it painful for McCain to type. Instead, he dictates responses that his wife types on a laptop. "She's a whiz on the keyboard, and I'm so laborious," McCain admits."

Interesting.

Earlier this year, there was a video (easy to find, I am sure; I think it was Yahoo! Politics but I couldn't be sure) polling Republican candidates on whether they were Mac or PC men.

It was the first part -- the second part was campaigning in NH and Iowa., IIRC.

I remember Huckabee, Ron Paul and Romney (who said it was a PC guy but would probably change because his sons swore by their Macs).

McCain said he was "computer illiterate" and relied on his wife for everything.

Why would he use that exact term, especially in light of his chairmanship of the Commerce committee?

I'll have to go back and see if the ad uses the exact term "computer illiterate."

If it does, it's using McCain's own words.

I miss the John McCain of 2000.

Spock:

Here's the link. It's from You Tube but it's ID'd as Yahoo Politics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rpamTKMlKw

I just checked the ad again. It doesn't use McCain's voice. It cites an article in Politico from July.

The article states how McCain is going to learn the Internet. It quotes the January Yahoo! video on computer illiiteracy.

So, at best, I think it's a wash.

Because Jonah Goldberg's argument is still wrong. Nowhere does the ad say anything about McCain and using a keyboard.

I still miss the John McCain of 2000.

[danielh41]

John McCain is now in my MySpace friends list. So see, he does know how to use a computer...

[minimetoo26]

John McCain is now in my MySpace friends list. So see, he does know how to use a computer...

How useful. I'm impressed.

[traininvain]

John McCain is now in my MySpace friends list. So see, he does know how to use a computer...

MySpace is so 2007, all the cool kids are on Facebook.

[MarleysGh0st]

John McCain is now in my MySpace friends list. So see, he does know how to use a computer...

And I'm sure he's personally handling all the content and interaction on that page!

[silverscreenselect]

Can you imagine the outcry if McCain had put out an ad belittling a Democratic candidate who happened to be disabled?

I don't think this was malicious on Obama's part, just laughably poorly researched, but as usual the media tends to completely ignore it instead of turning it into the "outrage" that they do with every real or imagined McCain slur of Obama.

[ne1410s]

sss:

Can you imagine the outcry if McCain had put out an ad belittling a Democratic candidate who happened to be disabled?

I don't think this was malicious on Obama's part, just laughably poorly researched, but as usual the media tends to completely ignore it instead of turning it into the "outrage" that they do with every real or imagined McCain slur of Obama.

Jesus Fucking Christ, sss, Hillary lost. Grow a pair and deal with it!!

[hf_jai]

sss:

Can you imagine the outcry if McCain had put out an ad belittling a Democratic candidate who happened to be disabled?

I don't think this was malicious on Obama's part, just laughably poorly researched, but as usual the media tends to completely ignore it instead of turning it into the "outrage" that they do with every real or imagined McCain slur of Obama.

Jesus Fucking Christ, sss, Hillary lost. Grow a pair and deal with it!!

Obama's flaws exist independently of the fact that Hillary is not the nominee.

[silverscreenselect]

sss:

Can you imagine the outcry if McCain had put out an ad belittling a Democratic candidate who happened to be disabled?

I don't think this was malicious on Obama's part, just laughably poorly researched, but as usual the media tends to completely ignore it instead of turning it into the "outrage" that they do with every real or imagined McCain slur of Obama.

Jesus Fucking Christ, sss, Hillary lost. Grow a pair and deal with it!!

Jesus Fucking Christ, Obama is a lying, sexist, unprincipled, arrogant, elitist, race baiting sleazeball who is about to lose a slam dunk election for a Democrat because idiots (I won't say who exactly, but some of them seem to reside on this Bored) in the Democratic party were either too blind, too stupid or too greedy to recognize the truth about him. Grow a pair and deal with it!!

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

I had heard that GWB was a real fanatic email user and has been stymied by his not being able to send email.

Nah, it's not a matter of security, really. It's just that Shrub kept getting these Nigerian penpals, and running up a HUGE debt....in the trillions, no less.

Or maybe it was because the penpal kept trying to sell W. a pile a stuff about WMDs in some Middle Eastern country that DIDN'T have anything to do with 9/11.

Or maybe it was because the only site in his Favorites was the online text for "My Pet Goat".

(Lest you think I've escaped the Lounge, note that this post is a Bush-Slam, which doesn't count.)

[Flybrick]

McCain wasn't real good at flying a Navy jet either.

Really?!

So you've learned how to fly, then learned how to fly a fighter, then learned how to employ that jet to deliver ordnance, then learned how to fly that jet on a moving landing field about 300 feet long by 40 feet wide that is moving away from you at some 25-30 knots?

You've shared a, maybe, 8X10 room with three other dudes for months on end? You've had the roof of your room be the landing deck mentioned above? You've had to learn to sleep with the incessant "WHAM!" of landing jets?

You've had to escape sudden explosions and devastating fire on your previous carrier? You had to calmly unstrap from your jet, slid down the wing, then go through the flames that are killing nearly 200 of your shipmates?

You volunteered to stay when your damaged ship went home because the hurried replacement carrier's air group was filled with rookies? You stayed even though you knew the current odds were 1 in 3 of getting shot down? You stayed with those odds knowing that of those shot down, most were killed, most of the remainder captured and faced years of prison and torture?

You flew once or twice a day for two-three months against very heavily defended targets picked by the White House the week before? Knowing many of those targets weren't worth spit militarily, but were to make a 'political statement?' Knowing that often times the timing of those attacks you have to make are known by the enemy who are thus prepared to shoot at you with everything from rifles to machine guns to heavy artillery to surface to air missiles?

You may be for Senator Obama. You may be against Senator McCain. If against him for his policies, fine. If against him because he's old, fine. If you're against him, just because, again, fine.

But don't display your stupidity even when attempting humor with cheap shots about flying combat.

You are neither qualified nor worthy to do so.

[Bob Juch]

McCain wasn't real good at flying a Navy jet either.

Really?!

So you've learned how to fly, then learned how to fly a fighter, then learned how to employ that jet to deliver ordnance, then learned how to fly that jet on a moving landing field about 300 feet long by 40 feet wide that is moving away from you at some 25-30 knots?

You've shared a, maybe, 8X10 room with three other dudes for months on end? You've had the roof of your room be the landing deck mentioned above? You've had to learn to sleep with the incessant "WHAM!" of landing jets?

You've had to escape sudden explosions and devastating fire on your previous carrier? You had to calmly unstrap from your jet, slid down the wing, then go through the flames that are killing nearly 200 of your shipmates?

You volunteered to stay when your damaged ship went home because the hurried replacement carrier's air group was filled with rookies? You stayed even though you knew the current odds were 1 in 3 of getting shot down? You stayed with those odds knowing that of those shot down, most were killed, most of the remainder captured and faced years of prison and torture?

You flew once or twice a day for two-three months against very heavily defended targets picked by the White House the week before? Knowing many of those targets weren't worth spit militarily, but were to make a 'political statement?' Knowing that often times the timing of those attacks you have to make are known by the enemy who are thus prepared to shoot at you with everything from rifles to machine guns to heavy artillery to surface to air missiles?

You may be for Senator Obama. You may be against Senator McCain. If against him for his policies, fine. If against him because he's old, fine. If you're against him, just because, again, fine.

But don't display your stupidity even when attempting humor with cheap shots about flying combat.

You are neither qualified nor worthy to do so.

I didn't say a thing about flying combat. He destroyed three planes before he was assigned to a carrier.