# Obama temporarily leaving the campaign trail **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 21, 2008, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-temporarily-leaving-the-campaign-trail/468834 "2008-10-21T01:41:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-temporarily-leaving-the-campaign-trail/468834/41 "2008-10-22T18:34:11Z")
I was kidding, Marley. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-temporarily-leaving-the-campaign-trail/468834/42 "2008-10-22T18:48:33Z")
> [@pepperlandgirl](#): > > If anybody is going to be stupid enough to try to make political hay over this, it’s Palin. **And I don’t even think she’s that stupid**. You underestimate her. She \*is \*that stupid, but I suspect the McCain campaign will put a muzzle on her. This shouldn’t have any impact on Obama’s support…if anything, I think it may help him…people will see him as a regular guy doing what anyone would do under the circumstances. And I can’t see it hurting him in a geriatric swing state like Florida either. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-temporarily-leaving-the-campaign-trail/468834/43 "2008-10-22T19:14:01Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > I was kidding, Marley. Well, _I_ appreciated your joke… ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-temporarily-leaving-the-campaign-trail/468834/44 "2008-10-22T21:06:52Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > For the OP, at this stage in the game I just honestly can’t imagine there are _that_ many people who haven’t decided on one candidate or the other. This isn’t so much a choice between fish and chicken as between livers and drumsticks- _nobody_ likes them both the same and some can’t stand one or the other. I just have to use this as an excuse to quote David Sedaris in the current _New Yorker_ (and yes, this is the second time today I have cited the \*New Yorker \*on the SDMB…could I _be_ more of an elitist America-hater??) > [@](#): > > The flight attendant comes down the aisle with her food cart and, eventually, parks it beside my seat. “Can I interest you in the chicken?” she asks. “Or would you prefer the platter of shit with bits of broken glass in it?” > > To be undecided in this election is to pause for a moment and then ask how the chicken is cooked. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-temporarily-leaving-the-campaign-trail/468834/45 "2008-10-22T21:14:07Z")
I can’t imagine anyone criticizing him over this…and can’t imagine how this could possibly hurt him. In fact, I’ll say that it will have a small but positive effect on his campaign. For some reason there are people who think he’s kind of a cold fish (I don’t see it)…and this will definitely help him in that respect, making him more approachable/understandable (whatever). -XT ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-temporarily-leaving-the-campaign-trail/468834/46 "2008-10-23T01:10:39Z")
I think the McCain campaign is scouring the bottom of the barrel, looking for some way, any way, to spin the Obama hiatus story to their advantage and capitalize without looking like total dicks. They’re out of good options at this point, desperate, and just about out of time. I wouldn’t put it past them to do something. I just can’t imagine what. Then again, I’m not evil. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-temporarily-leaving-the-campaign-trail/468834/47 "2008-10-23T20:01:14Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > I think the McCain campaign is scouring the bottom of the barrel, looking for some way, any way, to spin the Obama hiatus story to their advantage and capitalize without looking like total dicks. They’re out of good options at this point, desperate, and just about out of time. I wouldn’t put it past them to do something. I just can’t imagine what. Well, [you don’t have to imagine now.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=489227) Beyond pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-temporarily-leaving-the-campaign-trail/468834/48 "2008-10-23T20:19:07Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > Hell, what I’ve seen from them is that he’s REALLY trying to go down there to deal with his fake birth certificate, and the grandma’s illness is just a cover-up. According to the Freepers, he also plans to [“deal with Gramma”](http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2110777/posts) while he’s there. Just when you think that place can’t get more cracked… ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-temporarily-leaving-the-campaign-trail/468834/49 "2008-10-23T20:24:08Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > Well, [you don’t have to imagine now.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=489227) Beyond pathetic. Like I said in that thread, I’ll be very surprised if the campaign doesn’t apologize. If the press picks that up it’ll be hyper-embarrassing. So here’s guessing Olbermann does his special commentary on that tonight… ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-temporarily-leaving-the-campaign-trail/468834/50 "2008-10-23T20:35:32Z")
> [@Indistinguishable](#): > > Well, _I_ hope she lives to see his second term… It would be great if she could live to see the completion of his succesful second term. But at the very least – the very, very least – I want her to see the headlines this coming November 5, proclaiming her grandson the 44th president. If it were me, I would die happy then. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-temporarily-leaving-the-campaign-trail/468834/51 "2008-10-23T20:40:53Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > Well, [you don’t have to imagine now.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=489227) Beyond pathetic. Here’s the video: > **[GOP Strategist On Palin's Clothing Allowance: Real Outrage Is "Obama Taking A...](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gop-strategist-on-palins_n_137226)** > > GOP Strategist On Palin's Clothing Allowance: Real Outrage Is "Obama Taking A 767 Campaign Plane To Visit Grandma" (VIDEO) ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-temporarily-leaving-the-campaign-trail/468834/52 "2008-10-23T20:50:00Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > Well, [you don’t have to imagine now.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=489227) Beyond pathetic. Oh, my. That is… That is… Oh, my. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-temporarily-leaving-the-campaign-trail/468834/53 "2008-10-23T20:52:27Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Oh, my. That is… That is… Oh, my. Are you really surprised? This is the typical level of political moronity that the McCain campaign has been showing for at least the last six weeks and probably more. At LEAST since the first major economic eruption, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-temporarily-leaving-the-campaign-trail/468834/54 "2008-10-23T20:55:09Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > So here’s guessing Olbermann does his special commentary on that tonight… Keith is going to drop dead from exhaustion by the time this election is over. Special Comments used to be occasional. Now they’re nightly. In a week if he wants to cover all the horror from the McCain camp he’ll need to do hourly breakins all day. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-temporarily-leaving-the-campaign-trail/468834/55 "2008-10-23T21:01:15Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Are you really surprised? I think I am. I think I shouldn’t be, but still… On the bright side, this stuff does not seem to be resonating with the people. It seems to me that people are starting to wise up to the fact that the folks running the Republican Party do, indeed, have no shame. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-temporarily-leaving-the-campaign-trail/468834/56 "2008-10-23T21:04:43Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > … the folks running the Republican Party do, indeed, have no shame. Which is itself a shame, considering all of the decent Republicans I know and have known, not least of all family. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-temporarily-leaving-the-campaign-trail/468834/57 "2008-10-23T21:50:23Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Well, I hope she can cut the ribbon at his presidential library. I don’t know why the rest of you are so eager to bury the poor woman. You guys are all assholes. _I_ hope she lives to cut the ribbon at _Joe Biden’s_ presidential library (r. 2016-2024, of course). > [@Sampiro](#): > > Another pic of Grandpa Dunham as a much older man in which you can see a strong resemblance. The smile is the same on both men. :eek: That’s quite a striking picture. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-temporarily-leaving-the-campaign-trail/468834/58 "2008-10-23T22:03:36Z")
> [@Slacker](#): > > Keith is going to drop dead from exhaustion by the time this election is over. Special Comments used to be occasional. Now they’re nightly. In a week if he wants to cover all the horror from the McCain camp he’ll need to do hourly breakins all day. That’s why he doesn’t call it the “Special Comment” anymore, rather opting for the “Campaign Comment.” And I can’t believe how wrong I was! I learned my lesson, McCain. I will never again underestimate the crassness and stupidity of your campaign. Well played, sir, well played. ---
**Author:** ![George\_Kaplin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3e96dc/32.png) [@George\_Kaplin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/George_Kaplin)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-temporarily-leaving-the-campaign-trail/468834/59 "2008-10-23T22:19:34Z")
Man, that [Freeper](http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2110777/posts) thread is a fucking comedy goldmine! Some specimens over there genuinely believe Obama has gone to Hawaii to _kill_ his own grandmother to stop her dishing the dirt about his birth certificate. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-temporarily-leaving-the-campaign-trail/468834/60 "2008-10-24T00:16:23Z")
yep, olbermann is frothing already. his opening teaser was dripping, the actual segment should be entertaining. i’m more interested in if ms. maddow will have it on her show. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-temporarily-leaving-the-campaign-trail/468834.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-temporarily-leaving-the-campaign-trail/468834.md?page=4)