What was McCain writing?

In My Humble Opinion (IMHO)
#1

At the beginning of the 2d - “town hall” - debate, when the candidates came out McCain immediately sat down and began writing on his pad of paper, and didn’t stop until the moderator spoke to him. Last night he also began writing as soon as he sat down.

I doubt we will ever find out for certain what he was writing (imagine what those notes might fetch on ebay!), but does anyone have any thoughts on what it might have been?

I’m assuming that just before he came out he read/heard some key words/points/phrases he wanted to hit either in his opening or throughout the debate, and he wanted to jot them down as reminders before they might slip his mid during the heat of the debate. But it looked a tad odd, didn’t it?

#2

I wondered the same thing. He was also jotting down notes on the pad as Obama spoke during the debate.

#3

“Don’t say nigger Don’t say nigger Don’t say nigger Don’t say nigger Don’t say nigger Don’t say nigger Don’t say nigger…”

#4

I figured he was writing “Mr. John Palin” over and over, with all kinds of curlicues and flowers and hearts dotting the I’s and so forth.

#5

This is probably it, especially if the candidates were not allowed to bring notes to the table (was that the case?).

#6

All work and no play makes John a dull boy
All work and no play makes John a dull boy
All work and no play makes John a dull boy
All work and no play makes John a dull boy
All work and no play makes John a dull boy
All work and no play makes John a dull boy
All work and no play makes John a dull boy
All work and no play makes John a dull boy
All work and no play makes John a dull boy
All work and no play makes John a dull boy

#7

“Cthulhu fhtagn”

#8

In the attempt at a serious reply, it could be that it’s all a bit of theater. McCain’s people might have told him that it gives him the appearance of being thoughtful and astute.

#9

It came across the other way to me, senile or sinister. Almost as if he couldn’t remember all the points he had to make and needed notes, or he was jotting down bits of quotes to take out of context in his next rebuttal.

#10

Maybe it just gave him something to do/look at. Because when he was looking at the camera, or, god forbid, “smiling” at it, or wandering around the stage, he looked much worse than when he was scribbling.

#11

Winner! Except that by writing it, he probably would have been more likely to say it.

#12

Eggs
Bread
Geritol
Preperation H
Gold Bond Powder
Poligrip
Aspercreme

Joe the Plumber

make apt w/dr. to get lump on jaw lanced

Maybe he was drawing pictures of Obama with horns and fangs, or with knives stuck in his head.

#13

I suspect that this is the right answer. It’s an awkward sort of moment – where do you look? do you greet people? This gave him something to fill the time, much as news anchors do.

#14

His concession speech.

#15

“Plumber, not Sixpack.”

#16

Significantly more than they will on November 5th, that’s for sure!

Ha! Good one!

#17

Or maybe he was doing his Jon Stewart imitation.

#18

Ahh–muhh–dihh–nehh–jaaad…

#19

Given the mancrush he seemed to have on Todd Palin during his recent Letterman interview:

JM
+
TP
BFF4EVAR

#20

I’m pretty sure he has a list of comebacks for specific questions. If Obama says this, I’ll say that.

or

Red rum

Red rum

Red rum