David Letterman keeps up his barrage of John McCain quips

Forget John McCain's face-to-face encounters with Barack Obama, which wrap up Wednesday with their third and final debate. Thursday evening is when we'll find out just how thick McCain's skin is.

That's when he settles into the guest chair next to the TV star who has become his new, unrelenting nemesis -- David Letterman. Chances are they'll play nice. But given the grief Letterman has been directing McCain's way, the candidate surely will be entertaining less-than-friendly thoughts.

Promulgating a feud -- whether real or not -- is a tried-and-true technique for attracting attention on the talk show circuit. One of the founding fathers of late-night television, Jack Paar (at right), was a master at it.

Letterman, whose comedic persona long has included a crusty edge, embraced the role of spurned host after McCain canceled a scheduled "Late Show" appearance last month because of plans to hurry back to Washington -- but then remained in New York that night. Since then, Letterman monologues have been littered with barbs aimed at McCain.

And that continued to be the case tonight, despite the the Republican's effort to make amends and show up on the "Late Night" set Thursday. The Times' Matea Gold passes along, courtesy of CBS, some of Letterman's latest lines:

You heard what happened at a rally yesterday. Sarah Palin mistook some of her supporters for hecklers. And you know, confusion happens in all walks of life. For example, a few weeks ago, John McCain mistook her for a legitimate candidate. ...

And tomorrow night is the final presidential debate. John McCain and Barack Obama. And John McCain is going to take this opportunity to unveil his new campaign persona. His new campaign personality, to really energize the last couple of weeks of the campaign -- Fighting Underdog. Fighting Underdog. ... And if that doesn’t work, then he’s going to go to Corrupt Bordertown Sheriff. And if that doesn’t work, Seen-it-All Bartender.  And then Priest Who Tries to Communicate with Martians. And then the Alcoholic Safecracker. And then the Maniacal Hunter Who’s After Human Prey. And then the Shifty Racetrack Vet. And then the Retired Jewel Thief. And then the Archaeologist Who Scoffs at the Mummy’s Curse. ...

I’ll say one thing about John McCain -- the guy is an optimist. He sees the glass as half full -- of his teeth.

And we'll say one thing about Letterman: He's more than doing his part to maintain the disparity a study identified in the political targets of late-night jests.

-- Don Frederick

Photo credit: NBC

Comments

[jon]

in this hard times, we need a strong, tested leader...if in canada, the conservatives win...that is because they came to realize that they dont want to gamble to anybody, to that one...SO, LETS GO FOR MCCAIN....

[steve rodriguez]

What about rapper Ludacris's quip!
In his song about Obama:

" I hope McCain gets paralyzed,

Bush is an idiot,

let's paint the White House black!"

Ludacris it sounds like you're playing the race card....again!!!

[VJ Machiavelli]

I wonder if Dave will still making jokes about McCain as the Obama tax man takes a BIG BITE out of his paycheck

Dave is one of those 5% who will see their taxes go UP AND UP AND UP.

Maybe McCain will have the last laugh on DAVE

VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com

.

[Dave]

In Canada, the Conservaties are for publicly funded, universal health care system...
they are socialist...(Conservaties Party... its just a name)

Read their platform from the party s website;
http://www.conservative.ca/EN/4739/78188

[FLRepublican]

Haha, Letterman cracks me up. After being a friend to McCain for decades, then to be lied to and played for a fool is understandably infuriating. It remains to be seen if America will decide to go through the same experiment of putting trust in McCain, hoping he won't lie to us as well.

[Mark]

Letterman is stupid. He's not funny and he never has been. If Obama wins, he can visit Letterman and together they can both be really bad at their jobs.

[fred]

A strong tested leader would be one option, McCain has never been a leader however. He was a failure in the military, never commanded anything of significance, abandoned his wife, he might have been ok as a budweiser salesman for the new mobbed up father in law, a whore for keating, supported invading the wrong country after 911, wrong on deregulation, wrong on palin and oh! he has a bad temper and hits women. Leadership is one thing, following a demented lied piper to hell is another.

[owlafaye]

What a horror it would be if McCain were to be president. I hope that Bush is the last of this terrible travesty of embarrassed Justice, insulted rights, world bullying, presidential secrecy and outright theft.

[cindy]

John McCain could appeal to the senior vote as the Bingo Master.

[John]

Go for McCain? What are you smoking? 8 years of conservatism got us into this mess in the first place. Americans don't like Canadians butting in our business take care of your own damn country for what its worth.

[Mr.G.]

I agree with Jon. I wish Bush-Chenney could have stayed in the office, they have so much experience now.

[COL. A.M.Khajawall[Ret[]

McCain-Palin bad for USA.

Dear concerned citizens of America and Mass Media of the U.S.A.
As a concerned registered independent voter, forensic psychiatrist, disabled American I made my decision to vote after taking into consideration following joint tickets attributes and characteristics.

1. Has the ticket shown adequate calmness, coolness, and connectedness's under pressure to lead our nation [Presidential Temperament]?

2. Has the ticket shown sustained sound "Judgment and Caliber"?

3. Has the ticket shown adequate understanding of depth and degree to address the crucial challenges in their their purpose, policies, and positions [ Honesty, integrity and sincerity]?

4. Has the ticket sufficient "understanding and knowledge" of inside Washington workings [Experience]"?

5. Has the ticket reservoir resilience, wisdom, and vigor to address the present and future f our beloved "Great-grand Nation"?

6. Has the ticket enough joint foreign policy experience and exposure based on " Values, Virtues, Vastness, and " [American moral soul]"?

7. Has their campaign talk, slogans, ads, plans, and programs based on facts and are they free of fear, fiction, frivolous labels, unfair attacks, negativity, and impulsively? [No "imminent danger to national security and safety"].

8. Has the ticket genuinely kept on message of country first and politics last and avoided copying [Message change"]?

9.Has the ticket message stayed away from Culture divide and war[ Disaster prevention ]?
10. Has the ticket resisted being surrounded, supported and surrogate's by divisiveness, distortion's, and destructive characters, [ Real patriotism VS shiftiness and shameless parrot-ism]?

11. Has the ticket thoughtful, real non-partisan, & non-impulsive plans to address our current economic crisis or political tactics and temperamental statements.
I have personally and professionally concluded that OBAMA-BIDEN ticket will lift and inspire our greatgrand nation back to its greatness within and restore our global standing with the use of maximum, firm
international diplomacy and minimal force if and when indicated {" Peace thru Strenght "}.

12. The era of responsibility has to replace irresponsibility and unaccountability will change to accountability and transparency. The Wall Street greed will change to Main Street need.

13. Temperamental and Angry McCain is out to play and create a card mistrust and distress around Obama with the Vail of claim that he will bring bipartisanship in Washington DC. He is destroying him claim every by painting Obama naive. It is tragic, sad, and unfortunate that so called Maverick McCain has already generated a disdain and demeaning face off in the debates and bailout suggestion. Obama is real Presidential and he maintained a smile during the debate and while McCain had a constant grin and disdain towards Obama.

Yours sincerely,

COL. A.M.Khajawall [Ret] MD.
Forensic psychiatrist, Disabled American Veteran and Iraq
Freedom team. Grass roots California leader per Senator McCain's
PS: It is sad and unfortunate that Hon, Temperamental and angry Maverick McCain has changed into bitter rather than better man. ? Maverick McCain should join Obama.

[obvioustroll]

The conservatives won in Canada, with over 64% of the people NOT voting for them.

They won because they were going up against 3 other parties that were all left leaning. Had there been a single party or even 2 parties, they likely would not have won much of anything.

McCain is picked on more by the talk shows because his campaign is easier to target. He's far older, picked a horrible running mate, has all sorts of personality issues, and he is obviously two-faced.

One can't lie in a debate and not have it brought up a good 15 times within 30 minutes anymore. Yet he somehow believes he can lie constantly and not get caught. His double standard is also part of this. If Ayer's actions in the past are so critical to a person that was 8 when he did it, then his Keating dealings should be pretty important, especially considering the current banking issues.

[Don't smoke crack]

"in this hard times, we need a strong, tested leader". John McCain has been tested. He almost failed out of college. He failed at marriage and honor. He failed at flying his airplane 5 times and was captured by the enemy for 5 years. I don't argue that John McCain tries real hard. But the problem is that failue in the presidency is not an option and not something you can just squeak by on. Kennedy wasn't tested. Lincoln wasn't tested. But they were among the best leaders we ever had. The choice is clear. Vote for someone who has done more than squeak by in life. Vote for Obama.

[crossroads]

McCain a strong leader? A hothead who changes his position every other day, who can't get over his sacrifice in a losing effort in Vietnam, with a pathological lying imbecile as VP? I didn't think we could do worse than Bush, but now I know we can.

[rj]

It's funny because there is truth there.
Why don't GOPs have a sense of humor?

[Jaydee]

used to be with Obama till this ACORN crap
Ayers didn't seem relevant to me but this ACORN.
Damn Barack! We could have had another Martin Luther King

[steve rodriguez]

An Obama presidency would be an Obama-nation for America! He is a total inexperienced, insincere fake!

[Jim Treacher]

"After being a friend to McCain for decades, then to be lied to and played for a fool is understandably infuriating."

The only one making Letterman look like a fool is Letterman. It's just that he used to realize he was doing it.

[Dave's Mom]

Letterman is stupid. He's not funny and he never has been. If Obama wins, he can visit Letterman and together they can both be really bad at their jobs.

Posted by: Mark | October 15, 2008 at 12:44 AM
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Mark here is still upset at Dave for taking his lunch money.