# McCain not as forked as the McCain Forked thread, but still forked **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 8, 2008, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951 "2008-10-08T03:49:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 53
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/1041 "2008-11-01T23:15:45Z")
Dang, who’s the GOP Pres. nominee again? Sarah somebody? ---
**Author:** ![vison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e47774/32.png) [@vison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vison)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/1042 "2008-11-01T23:22:01Z")
Palin pranked. [Those nasty Canucks. Jeez.](http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/11/1/151958/557/831/649050) ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/1043 "2008-11-02T01:11:45Z")
My favorite quote from Cheney’s endorsement: “He’s a man who has looked into the face of evil and not flinched.” So you made him look you in the eye, huh? I bet he said, “Dick, please don’t help me.” ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/1044 "2008-11-02T04:47:36Z")
This should be posted at 538 but I default to youse jerks with my grammar questions: > [@](#): > > What I want to make clear is that whenever I refer to Pennsylvania as being “in play”, you should imagine those little quotation marks around my words. You should also imagine that I’m speaking in the conditional tense. Were the national race to tighten by 5 points or so, then Pennsylvania might actually be in play, rather than being “in play”. (Actually, that might have been the subjunctive rather than the conditional, but never mind). Air quotes have a tense, now? ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/1045 "2008-11-02T04:49:50Z")
[nitty nitty nitpick] Technically, the subjunctive is a mood, not a tense. [/nit] ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/1046 "2008-11-02T05:42:22Z")
[BTW, NPR is asking people to report any voting irregularities they see.](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96349881) > [@](#): > > If you have any voting problems, NPR wants to hear about them. As part of Twitter Vote Report – a project born out of a collaboration of volunteer software developers, bloggers and the NPR social media desk – we’ll be monitoring voting irregularities, everything from long waits and broken voting machines to polling places with insufficient ballots. > > An interactive map will track election problems reported by voters. The map will display eyewitness reports as they come in, so most of them will not be verified by NPR. As reporters look into some of them, you’ll find stories on our voting problems page. Some organization has also been advertising on TV for you to call them (or go to their website, don’t know the URL) and complain if you had problems voting. Gotta say that Nov. 5th is going to be a _real_ interesting day. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/1047 "2008-11-02T07:59:19Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > [BTW, NPR is asking people to report any voting irregularities they see.](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96349881) Check this out. > [@](#): > > [Bogus Robocall Tells Floridians They Can Vote By Phone](http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/10/bogus-robocall.html?npu=1&mbid=yhp) > > The residents of Broward County, Florida have recently received misleading robocalls telling them that they can vote by phone on Election Day, according to a report in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Friday. > > The report didn’t provide many details, other than the fact that the voice fallaciously identified itself as Elections Supervisor Brenda Snipes. > > When asked whether she had heard about the calls, the supervisor’s public service director said that she hadn’t, and that of course voting by phone is not an option. > > The call is just one of a number of dirty tricks being pulled off around the country just before record numbers of voters are expected to turn up at the polls on Election Day. > > Another unknown group is distributing flyers (see the flyer after the jump) with official-looking letterhead around the area of Hampton Roads, Virgina that erroneously inform recipients that because of the crowds at the polls, the Virginia State Board of Elections is scheduling Republicans to vote on November 4th, and Democrats on the 5th. > > Democratic congressmen Jerry Nadler of New York, John Conyers of Michigan and Bobby Scott of Virginia on Thursday asked the Justice Department to launch an investigation into the matter and to bring criminal charges against the originators of the flyers. > > **Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that people in the area have been receiving robocalls with the same message.** > … Detestable slime. I hope they get caught and do serious time. Hasn’t Broward County had enough shit thrown their way? Those poor people, you could forgive them if they were cynical and mistrustful that any of their votes will count. I just have to say, I so adore John Conyers! ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/1048 "2008-11-02T13:02:40Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > If it was real leak to him, then it is buried in the drop from 7 to 5 in the Zogby numbers and will stay there for tomorrow and the next day and would drop off on Tuesday except … well there will be another poll’s results taking up the news cycle! > > Seriously, you’ll know that it was a one day fluke if Zogby’s numbers stay 4 or 5 for the next two days. [Less than a one day fluke.](http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN3134134020081102) > [@](#): > > Obama leads McCain by 50 percent to 44 percent among likely voters in the three-day national tracking poll, up from a 5-point advantage on Saturday. And since the alleged McCain +1 day would still be in there, that would mean that the number that dropped in had to be significantly higher than the one that dropped off (that had previously resulted in a 7 without the outlier McCain +1 and still held the 3d rolling average to an Obama +5 yesterday with that alleged McCain +1 in the roll). In short either Drudge was totally making it up, or today’s pull was _quite_ up there for Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/1049 "2008-11-02T13:39:01Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > [nitty nitty nitpick] > Technically, the subjunctive is a mood, not a tense. > [/nit] Or, for we old folk, a mode. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/1050 "2008-11-02T15:26:13Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Or, for we old folk, a mode. Don’t be mean! ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/1051 "2008-11-02T19:34:00Z")
Some definite signs of tightening at the state level especially in Pennsylvania with yet more polls showing it’s a 6-7 point race. McCain has apparently managed to cut 6 points off Obama’s lead in the last week but cutting the next six will be vastly harder and almost impossible in two days. Still an “insurance” visit by Obama to PA would have been nice; it would have produced a positive news cycle on local news and probably stopped McCain’s momentum cold. The other thing I would have liked him to do is spend more time on his tax plan and perhaps cut a 90 second ad where he goes on camera and explains it clearly. It probably won’t matter and Obama will win comfortably anyway. I am assuming that his ground campaign will deliver any state where he is 3 points or more ahead today which means Ohio, Virginia, Iowa, NM, Nevada, Colorado and all the Kerry states. Perhaps two or three other states including Florida. That appears a reasonable default scenario as of now and it’s unlikely to change in two days. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/1052 "2008-11-02T20:27:27Z")
**Lantern** I can understand your concern that Obama’s PA lead has tightened some, but yeah it is still a solid lead and he has a solid GOTV effort there. Also while he may not be there today a major surrogate is - Bill Clinton. Meanwhile McCain has put all of his effort into trying to pull PA off. A long long shot even if not impossible. And what if he did? As 538 has shown he’d _still_ be a high likelihood to lose. Even more so because while McCain is putting everything into PA Obama’s team is doing [this.](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/31/221640/88) Nevada, Colorado, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, etc… ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/1053 "2008-11-02T20:34:19Z")
538, however, has Florida as being too close to call at the moment, and North Carolina is slipping. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/1054 "2008-11-02T22:44:05Z")
[Palin Cabbage Patch dolls are going for almost $1500 _more_ than McCain dolls and $1700 more than Obama dolls on eBay.](http://motherandbaby.com.au/wondertime/ContentItem.aspx?contentID=1031) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/1055 "2008-11-02T22:49:35Z")
Its the pervert market, inspired by the Palin porno. A “hand puppet”, so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/1056 "2008-11-02T23:03:16Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > [Palin Cabbage Patch dolls are going for almost $1500 _more_ than McCain dolls and $1700 more than Obama dolls on eBay.](http://motherandbaby.com.au/wondertime/ContentItem.aspx?contentID=1031) Probably because the Obama one looks more like Rodney Allen Rippy. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2008, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/1057 "2008-11-03T00:18:44Z")
Nice essay by the type of person McCain can’t afford to loose, but has. In the CS Monitor of all places. > **[My wife made me canvass for Obama; here's what I learned](https://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2008/1103/p09s02-coop.html)** > > This election is not about major policies. It's about hope. ---
**Author:** ![Orbifold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orbifold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orbifold)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2008, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/1058 "2008-11-03T00:40:11Z")
I’ll be glad when this election is over so I can devote some more time to my other obsessions. My WAG: Obama 289, McCain 249. McCain wins FL, NC, VA, and CO; Obama wins PA (duh), OH, NM, and NV. That’s a somewhat cynical guess, leaving open the possibility that I will be happily surprised on November 5th if, for example, Obama wins Colorado. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2008, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/1059 "2008-11-03T01:50:06Z")
I predict Obama will win between 300 and 350 EVs and 55% of the popular vote. And by predict I mean hope. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2008, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/1060 "2008-11-03T02:11:51Z")
Only one more day of lying, despicable McCain ads that are making me flip the bird at the TV every single fucking time they come on. I’m seriously developing a real hatred of that man and his campaign. Lies, insinuations, more lies, unvetted rumors, outright falsehoods, negative spin that’s nowhere near factual…the man and his campaign are covered with slime. I hope Obama hands him his ass on Tuesday. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951.md?page=52) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951.md?page=54)