Anyone familiar with sports understands what is happening with McCain right now.

[Drunken Irishman]

In sports, when momentum shifts in a tight game, two things happen. Either the team regroups, comes back more focused and matches the opposition, or they wilt. McCain is wilting. He's down 10 with five minutes left and just lost the ball off his foot and is now complaining to the ref and because of that, drew a technical.

I see it every NBA season. A team starts losing ground and they panic, taking stupid shots, making stupid fouls and turning the ball over at the worst possible time.

What we're seeing from McCain is a meltdown of epic proportions.

[AllentownJake]

1. In Poker they call it on Tilt

Making stupid calls and playing hands you should fold hoping something will change your luck after losing a big pot.

[msallied]

3. Given McCain's penchant for gambling, I'd say that this makes sense for him.

[RoadRage]

10. He went all in with 9 - 2 offsuit when he picked up Palin...

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

19. One of the better metaphorical descriptions of McCrypt's VP selection I've read.

Spot on.

[RoadRage]

23. Yeah.. i think he thought he could hide her away for the next 2 months.

That way he wouldn't have to show his cards, and he didn't think anyone would actually call him. Bad bluff.. especially when you're sitting at the table with Phil Ivey. ;) McCain was probably like Doyle 8 years ago.. but he's lost his marbles. He still thinks he can play, but sadly everyone can see his tells now.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

20. That would make an entertaining poll too...

...ask DUers to select what they believe to be the best from six or seven gambling metaphors describing McCrypt's decision to choose Palin as his running mate.

[msallied]

2. I always wondered why they did that in basketball.

I admit that I understand little of the strategy of literally handing the ball to the opposition in the end so that they can get two free shots. lol

[BlooInBloo]

9. Because if you're in an inferior position, that's actually your best bet....

When time is of the essence, the importance of having the ball trumps pretty much all other considerations.

[msallied]

13. Ah... very interesting. :)

I will watch basketball with that idea in mind from now on. Perhaps I will even enjoy it more. lol

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

22. I can't speak for anyone else, but...

...I used to dribble the ball off my foot and out of bounds primarily because I was a really crappy basketball player. I happened to play on a really crappy team in a really crappy conference so I still got a fair amount of playing time (humiliation opportunities).

[Solomon]

27. But just like in a close basketball game, the score winds up looking

like a blow-out in the end.

[hogwyld]

4. I've seen too many comebacks

and too many teams that were leading go into cruise control to let off my foot. I'll be donating and calling until Nov. 4th.

[Hokie]

5. I started by picking Palin

It was like faking a punt on your own 2 yard line.

[tekisui]

7. That was the first Hail Mary, and everything sense then has been

as well.

[LiberalFighter]

12. Unfortunately, Hail Mary's are intended for game ending theatrics.

Not when there is/was another half or quarter to play in the game.

[tridim]

6. And Obama is KU

;)

[arKansasJHawk]

11. Hooray!

I was hoping someone would put a KU plug in here (as if my screenname didn't give away my bias).

I think the KU analogy is dead on, actually. McCain was gaining momentum before the conventions, Obama was falling behind, then rallied to tie it up. Now we're in overtime and McCain (Memphis) is losing his shit while Obama stays cool and keeps playing smart, building a lead and heading for victory.

[rufus dog]

8. Unfortunately that defines the history of his home town team.

The Phoenix Suns. Best players have always been undersized point guards (Dems/Liberals at least) with a supporting cast of chokers.

[Drunken Irishman]

14. I'm in the same boat with the Utah Jazz.

The Jazz and Suns are very similar in this regard.

[spanone]

15. they're going steady

[hvn_nbr_2]

16. Generally agree, except for one point

with five minutes left

I think it's more like midway through the third quarter, especially since they control the White House, the military, and the CIA. Also, for the most part, the media, the pollsters, the voting machine companies, and the "plumbers".

However, part of our different perspectives on the time left may be our choice of sports. My frame of reference is more football; I don't pay much attention to basketball.

[Riddler]

17. Speaking of sports, maybe McAsshole can go to work for Al Davis when his political career is over

2 bitter, disgusting old men desperately trying to hold on to power that's slipping through their fingers

[grantcart]

18. He's like the team that was just happy they made it to the playoffs and didn't

really care what happens in the championship game.

[nerddem]

21. or if you want a football analogy

he's like a home team that keeps getting pushed back by false starts in the same drive

[Arugula Latte]

24. ...

[demokatgurrl]

25. But there's that kicker, Palin

I think she will give him a bump, unfortunately. We just have to make sure it doesn't last for more than a day. Limit him to a field goal.

[symbolman]

26. His campaign is comprised of nothing but

Rove "bench warmers" who tie their shoelaces together and then hit the floor :)

[krkaufman]

28. I definitely think they may get a technical foul called tonight or tomorrow morning ...

... if Palin fails in the debate and they try to pin it on Gwen Ifill. Ifill's fellow journalists will not likely stand for it, and the bad press will continue to grow.