Not A Pretty Scene

And I'm not sure that the McCain campaign is doing enough to make sure incidents like this one don't happen. I know there's only so much they can do to calm anxious supporters, but outright violence isn't going to help their cause one bit.

McCain Miami Rally, Getting Ugly Down Here

...After the rally, we witnessed a near-street riot involving the exiting McCain crowd and two Cuban-American Obama supporters. Tony Garcia, 63, and Raul Sorando, 31, were suddenly surrounded by an angry mob. There is a moment in a crowd when something goes from mere yelling to a feeling of danger, and that's what we witnessed. As photographers and police raced to the scene, the crowd elevated [...]

Race-Baiting?

You've heard by now that the young woman who claimed she was accosted by a black male, who allegedly carved a backwards "B" on her cheek because she had a McCain/Palin bumper sticker on her car, made the whole story up.  That's right.  A hoax.  And a Fox News exec may be biting his tonque over something he said yesterday.

FOX VP: Race-baiting hoax means McCain's quest for the presidency "is over"

NO quote.  But it's worth your time.  Click the  link. It's 30 seconds worth of reading, but you'll be talking about it!

UPDATE: CNN's Rick Sanchez went for the jugular today:

Rick Sanchez Calls Out Media That Fell For "Mutilation" Hoax

...It was a hoax. And now, some in the fourth estate are left to explain why they pushed this apparent political ploy. Those in the business who showed some prudence are calling out their competitors for taking the bait.On CNN today, anchor Rick Sanchez did just that, naming the outlets that not only reported but actively pushed the story of Ashley Todd. In addition to explaining why his station [...]

It's Just Politics

I know, particularly in the waning days of the campaign, this is to be expected.  Still, it's the kind of stuff that WILL influence some voters, for all the wrong reasons.

Republican Mailer Repeats Controversial Claims About Obama and Ayers

A direct-mail advertisement sent to Virginia voters this week features a picture of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama next to this blow-up quotation from violent Vietnam-era radical William Ayers: “I don’t regret setting bombs. I feel we [...]

More Bad News From the Election Trail

It's going to be a long, ugly, two weeks. Somebody had better reign in these crazy people. Really. Talk about being un-American. I know there is free speech, but this is getting really close to yelling "fire" in a crowded theatre.

McCain supporters heckle early voters.

On Sunday, the Washington Times’s Christina Bellantoni stopped by a polling place in North Carolina, where she reported that a “group of loud and angry protestors” — almost all of whom were white — were shouting and mocking voters — nearly all of whom were black. Bellatoni noted that people “were shouting about Obama’s acknowledged [...]

McCain/Palin mob: 30 cars owners find tires slashed after NC Obama rally; voters heckled

Sigh. This happened yesterday in Fayetteville yesterday. And only a couple of days before, a Greensboro reporter was kicked to the ground by another McCain/Palin patriot at a Bible Spice rally at Elon. Someone slashed the tires of [...]

 

Still Talking "Economy" on the Campaign Trail

I pay a bit more attention to these things than the average person, I'm sure.  But, I'm having a tough time sorting out the various economic proposals from Obama and  McCain. I think I'm hearing some things I like from both of them, but much I'm not convinced will work. More than that, the angry tone of the crowds at the McCain appearances are becoming worrisome. Or worse.
UPDATE: The ugly trend continues:

Another McCain-Palin supporter yells ‘kill him!’ about Obama.

The Scranton Times-Tribune notes that yet another McCain supporter at a rally today with Gov. Sarah Palin yelled “kill him!” in reference to Sen. Barack Obama: Chris Hackett addressed the increasingly feisty crowd as they await the arrival of Gov. Palin. Each time the Republican candidate for the seat in the 10th Congressional District mentioned [...]

Lessons NOT Learned

Division really will mark the legacy of the McCain campaign, no matter what they say. It's the surrogates who are leaving that mark, even more so than the principle players.

Minister delivers divisive invocation at McCain event.

The Iowa Independent reports that a minister who spoke at John McCain’s rally in Davenport, IA today injected a divisive statement into his invocation. Here’s what Pastor Arnold Conrad said: "I would also pray, Lord, that your reputation is involved in all that happens between now and November, because there are millions of people around [...]

Out Of Control

Some of the McCain/Palin supporters are losing touch with reality, although they seem to think their feet are firmly planted in it.  This is more than just a bit worrisome.  I'm reading that McCain is trying to reign these folks in, but it's tough once the horse has left the barn.

McCain-Palin Supporters Gone Wild

Video interviews by confrontational Barack Obama supporters at John McCain rallies are shooting up the YouTube charts [...]

UPDATE: Seems McCain really is trying to take some of the edge off his more rabid supporters:

Is McCain Finally Restraining The Mob?

Good news from the trail: He just snatched the microphone out the hands of a woman who began her question with, "I'm scared of Barack Obama... he's an Arab terrorist..." "No, no ma'am," he interrupted. "He's a decent family man [...]