# What was McCain writing? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 16, 2008, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-mccain-writing/468215 "2008-10-16T16:00:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-mccain-writing/468215/1 "2008-10-16T16:00:13Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Superfreaknduper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Superfreaknduper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfreaknduper)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-mccain-writing/468215/2 "2008-10-16T16:10:29Z")
I wondered the same thing. He was also jotting down notes on the pad as Obama spoke during the debate. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-mccain-writing/468215/3 "2008-10-16T16:12:41Z")
“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…” ---
**Author:** ![Purgatory\_Creek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Purgatory\_Creek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purgatory_Creek)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-mccain-writing/468215/4 "2008-10-16T16:15:55Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-mccain-writing/468215/5 "2008-10-16T19:26:33Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > 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. This is probably it, especially if the candidates were not allowed to bring notes to the table (was that the case?). ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-mccain-writing/468215/6 "2008-10-17T00:44:05Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-mccain-writing/468215/7 "2008-10-17T01:10:55Z")
“Cthulhu fhtagn” ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-mccain-writing/468215/8 "2008-10-17T01:52:07Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-mccain-writing/468215/9 "2008-10-17T02:02:28Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-mccain-writing/468215/10 "2008-10-17T02:08:50Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-mccain-writing/468215/11 "2008-10-17T02:12:52Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > “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…” Winner! Except that by writing it, he probably would have been more likely to say it. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-mccain-writing/468215/12 "2008-10-17T02:17:11Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Campion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@Campion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Campion)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-mccain-writing/468215/13 "2008-10-17T04:29:18Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-mccain-writing/468215/14 "2008-10-17T04:42:07Z")
His concession speech. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-mccain-writing/468215/15 "2008-10-17T04:57:36Z")
“Plumber, not Sixpack.” ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-mccain-writing/468215/16 "2008-10-17T05:24:59Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > (imagine what those notes might fetch on ebay!), Significantly more than they will on November 5th, that’s for sure! > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > “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…” Ha! Good one! ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-mccain-writing/468215/17 "2008-10-17T13:23:14Z")
Or maybe he was doing his Jon Stewart imitation. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-mccain-writing/468215/18 "2008-10-17T15:04:39Z")
Ahh–muhh–dihh–nehh–jaaad… ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-mccain-writing/468215/19 "2008-10-17T16:09:58Z")
Given the mancrush he seemed to have on Todd Palin during his recent Letterman interview: JM + TP BFF4EVAR ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-mccain-writing/468215/20 "2008-10-17T16:21:48Z")
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 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-mccain-writing/468215.md?page=2)