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I'd Rather Lose a Campaign Than Blah Blah Blah
To the horror of magazines sponsoring presidential debate events, John McCain announces that he's "suspending" his campaign (No ads? No fundraising?) until a bailout deal is reached.
Following September 11th, our national leaders came together at a time of crisis. We must show that kind of patriotism now. Americans across our country lament the fact that partisan divisions in Washington have prevented us from addressing our national challenges. Now is our chance to come together to prove that Washington is once again capable of leading this country.
It's supposed to be leadership and "putting country first," I suppose, although it's true: Nothing has changed in the last 48 hours except the possibility of Congress staying at work until Sunday and some bad polls for McCain. It's most assuredly a stunt, as John McCain and Barack Obama don't really matter right now, and McCain's action makes the bailout debate look even more (if such a thing is possible) like a world-historical crisis. Has a presidential debate ever been postponed 48 hours before it was supposed to start?
UPDATE: Could this be a too-clever-by-half screwing-over of Obama?
NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports that Obama campaign strategist Robert Gibbs said, Obama initiated contact at 8:30 this morning after discussing it on the flight to Tampa yesterday afternoon and again last night. They discussed a joint statement of shared principles on the bailout package -- to help move it along toward consensus on the Hill.
At 2:35 p.m., McCain called back and mentioned whether they should meet at the White House and delay the debate. Asked whether they should delay the debate, Gibbs said that this is a global financial crisis -- and there would be no better way to shed light this crisis than to debate it. Gibbs says they have not decided whether or not it would be better to postpone the debate -- but want to talk to the sponsors (the debate commission) first.
If this is true, McCain is hoping that voters hear about him suspending his campaign for a few days and don't hear that he sprung the news on Obama. There's a grey area here, but you can argue that a true "country-firster" would have told his opponent what he was doing.
How this plays to Joe Dorito and Jane Six-Pack, I don't know. But this fetishization of bi-partisan political "action" is nonsense. Having a political or economic philosophy that would guide a candidate toward a decision on the bailout would be more reassuring than what McCain's offering: A crazy political curveball and a promise to pass whatever the senators who know what they're doing come up with.
Joe Lieberman is on my TV right now saying "the American people don't want words." I don't know: These debates are quadrennial events that most voters watch. They're not political fundraisers or set speeches, partisan events that distract people from important news. They are important news.
BDB|9.24.08 @ 3:20PM|#
"Has a presidential debate ever been postponed 48 hours before
it was supposed to start?"
No. This is weird.Either it's going to be brilliant or backfire
spectacularly.
|9.24.08 @ 3:24PM|#
Any debate run by the CPD is a fraud anyway. Just like the subsidy to 700 billion dollar subsidy to Buffet, Goldman Sachs, GE and JP Morgan is a fraud. Outright theft.
|9.24.08 @ 3:24PM|#
This is really weird. Is he flying back to DC to work on the
bailout? If not, then WTF is he doing?
Unless he's going to start bigfooting around DC working on the
bailout, this will come off as just trying to dodge the debate on
Friday, and, what's the term, "backfire spectacularly".
Naga Sadow|9.24.08 @ 3:24PM|#
I'm already forgetting the Republican candidate. What was his name again? I know he had a fox for running mate.
BDB|9.24.08 @ 3:27PM|#
Well, if RC Dean thinks it's B.S. (he's a conservative IIRC), I'm going towards the latter outcome in my post.
|9.24.08 @ 3:29PM|#
It's not as though McCain, or Obama for that matter, are valued
by their caucuses for their expertise on this stuff.
"Gentlemen, I think we've got something workable, but just to make
sure, let's run it by that guy who doesn't know much about
economics and that 12-year-old kid who keeps making fun of
him."
shane in wva|9.24.08 @ 3:30PM|#
This is excellent news!
I have been pondering a run at the Whitehouse for years now...and
since I am finally over 35, I can legally do it.
Who's with me? I am currently looking for a running-mate,
preferably one who loves this country and can't stand being told to
"sit down and shut up" any longer.
Since the libertarians have gotten off track (too much promoting
McCain at Reason online's front page) and since Bob Barr is a
libertarian and Ron Paul is a republican, I will start my own
party... The American Party, and you can all join.
What is McCain on anyway?
|9.24.08 @ 3:30PM|#
Unless he's going to start bigfooting around DC working on
the bailout
McCain is going to go yell at the Treasury guys. He will say things
like:
"It is now seven-oh-six. You have exactly eight hours and
fifty-four minutes to think about why you're here."
and
"Don't mess with the bull young man, you'll get the horns."
and
"The next time I hafta come in here, I'm crackin' skulls!"
and finally
"Grab some wood, bub!"
|9.24.08 @ 3:31PM|#
Not a bad political move for a guy who is dumber than me on the
economy. If Obama does't play along, he looks like an evil rat
bastard only interested in winning the white house.
Hellfire, it's even possible that McCain seriously wants to go back
to congress to get this clusterfuck fixed.
|9.24.08 @ 3:32PM|#
I'd be impressed if McCain, for the duration of this dead zone, hung upside down from a wire suspended over the Mall.
Naga Sadow|9.24.08 @ 3:32PM|#
Thanks a lot Epi! Now I got that damn theme song from The Breakfast Club stuck in my head!
Orange Line Special|9.24.08 @ 3:33PM|#
Gabe says: Any debate run by the CPD is a fraud
anyway.
You know those extra-annoying Reason popups? They're there so that
Reason can raise $10,000 so they can put on a debate like
this.
No, really. Reason has finally decided to "buck the Beltway" and
take on the entrenched Orange Line interests.
I'm not joking! Reason is going to "fight the power" and make sure
that the American public finds out what's wrong with the
candidates' policies before one of them is elected president.
Now, stop laughing! Reason is so going to do this!
The Dude|9.24.08 @ 3:36PM|#
This is the most mavericky move in the history of maverickness! To say otherwise would be sexist...
|9.24.08 @ 3:36PM|#
Now is our chance to come together to prove that Washington is once again capable of leading this country.
Bullshit.
Usually I make put some thought before making comments, but for
some reason this didn't require any thinking to evaluate the
honesty of McCain's statement.*
I'll try to do better in the future.
* He does get one bonus point for not mentioning that he was a
POW.
Tom Walls|9.24.08 @ 3:38PM|#
Talk about suspending habeas corpus!
> I'd be impressed if McCain, for the duration of this dead
zone, hung upside down from a wire suspended over the Mall.
|9.24.08 @ 3:41PM|#
McCain has been drowning everywhere he goes. Every time I see
his old mug on the tube he puts his foot in his mouth. He stutters
and can't finish a point or coherently answer a single damn
question. He opens his mouth and comes off as a senile old man. The
debate was going to be a disaster for him, and his campaign knew
it.
So they pulled this stunt.
duster|9.24.08 @ 3:41PM|#
Following September 11th, our national leaders came together
at a time of crisis. We must show that kind of patriotism
now.
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
|9.24.08 @ 3:43PM|#
My friends, I'm suspending my campaign so I can dedicate my full
time and attention to blaming Christopher Cox for this
problem.
Get 'im!
|9.24.08 @ 3:44PM|#
"You know those extra-annoying Reason popups?
You mean the ones that guarantee I'll never drop a penny
on Reason? They really do suck.
|9.24.08 @ 3:44PM|#
In the other Washington, Gov. Gregoire said "If we weren't tied to America, we would be doing just fine." That makes two possible secessions in the Pacific Northwest. Maybe Oregon's next!
BDB|9.24.08 @ 3:44PM|#
JOE ARE YOU PANICKED YET!?!?!?!?!?! FEELING
FLAT-FOOTED!?!?!?
They're saying Obama is "panicked" and "flat footed"again, I
haven't heard those two words for what seems like ages.
BDB|9.24.08 @ 3:45PM|#
I'd totally live in a country made up of Oregon, Washington state, British Columbia, and Alaska.
Neu Mejican|9.24.08 @ 3:45PM|#
The meat:
I am calling on the President to convene a meeting with the
leadership from both houses of Congress, including Senator Obama
and myself. It is time for both parties to come together to solve
this problem.
We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we
must meet until this crisis is resolved. I am
directing my campaign to work with the Obama campaign and the
commission on presidential debates to delay Friday night's debate
until we have taken action to address this crisis.
I am confident that before the markets open on Monday we can
achieve consensus on legislation that will stabilize our financial
markets, protect taxpayers and homeowners, and earn the confidence
of the American people. All we must do to achieve this is
temporarily set politics aside, and I am committed to doing
so.
1) This "crisis" will not be "resolved" until well after November
4th. Is he suspending his campaign until after the elections? Or is
he proposing delaying the election?
2) If the crisis is really this big, I have no problem with the
meeting that McCain is proposing. And Obama would be remiss in not
attending such a meeting.
3) However, the artificial deadline of Monday shows that McCain is
more interested in a fast fix than a good fix, so his proposal
indicates, again, that he lacks the judgment and leadership skills
needed to lead the executive branch. If the problem is simple
enough that they can put together the right package by Monday, then
it probably isn't a big enough deal to warrant the meeting he is
proposing.
Yaddah Yaddah.
Fluffy|9.24.08 @ 3:46PM|#
This actually is mavericky, since McCain is taking a hard line
for an unpopular bailout that the voters hate.
But it shows up McCain's collection of weaknesses, to wit:
1. Impulsiveness to the point of eccentricity
2. Willingness to jettison his bogus limited government credentials
at the drop of the hat
3. Tendency to view the political life of the nation as just a big
John McCain Role Playing Game
4. Insatiable hunger for going bipartisan at the worst possible
times
5. Hatred of capitalism
6. Tendency to think the way through issues is simply
bullying
7. Habit of striking moral poses he isn't morally entitled to
strike
Did I miss any?
|9.24.08 @ 3:46PM|#
"McCain has been drowning everywhere he goes. Every time I see
his old mug on the tube he puts his foot in his mouth. He stutters
and can't finish a point or coherently answer a single damn
question. He opens his mouth and comes off as a senile old man. The
debate was going to be a disaster for him, and his campaign knew
it.
So they pulled this stunt."
Guess you missewd the Saddleback interview.
Kolohe|9.24.08 @ 3:46PM|#
As I posted on a previous thread:
This is a ulterly transparrent move.
Will it work?
you betcha
Neu Mejican|9.24.08 @ 3:47PM|#
BDB | September 24, 2008, 3:45pm | #
I'd totally live in a country made up of Oregon, Washington state,
British Columbia, and Alaska.
The short name is Cascadia.
http://zapatopi.net/cascadia/
Fluffy|9.24.08 @ 3:50PM|#
1. Impulsiveness to the point of eccentricity
I want to talk some more about this one.
Consider the fact that, were I a candidate for President, not even
I would engage in this kind of bizarre stunt.
That means that John McCain is running a more demented campaign
than some crazy guy who calls himself Fluffy and calls everybody a
cunt would run.
If you are nuttier than me, you really should consider suspending
your campaign not for the bailout, but on account of insanity.
zoltan|9.24.08 @ 3:51PM|#
You'd think he was Rudy Giuliani with that 9/11 name drop.
Since the libertarians have gotten off track (too much
promoting McCain at Reason online's front page)
People are funny. Reason gets bashed for being Obama-lovers one
minute and McCain-slobberers the next. Hilarious.
|9.24.08 @ 3:52PM|#
"Ahhhh, McCain is so sacrificial. I like him so much because he
always appears to put his country first over his campaign," says
the non-thinking overly-sentimental voter, who can't see that his
decision was based on gaining more votes for his campaign.
His ability to pander to squidgy emotionalists is incomparable.
Elections should be about issues, not symbolic acts of lip service
to supposed patriotism. The best way to get to the issues is by
debating on a stage where what's communicated is somewhat
controlled. McCain is not doing himself justice with this. This is
the perfect time for a debate--before Congress makes a decision so
that we can hear both candidates' opinions on the economy at a bit
more depth compared to what we've seen and heard lately. I already
see why McCain is postponing this debate: so he can say that
Congress made a bipartisan decision, of which he was a part, and
he'll say that Obama never reaches across the aisle. And McCain
will say that he was oh-so-patriotic about it.
zoltan|9.24.08 @ 3:54PM|#
Guess you missewd the Saddleback interview.
It's pretty hard to look senile and stutter when your mouth is
attached to Rick Warren's ass.
|9.24.08 @ 3:56PM|#
I'd totally live in a country made up of Oregon, Washington
state, British Columbia, and Alaska.
If we could just jettison all the indie-rock bands. Well, the ones
I don't like. And their fans. Well, except the few that are my
friends and only listen to that stuff because their girlfriends
like it. And the people that moved here from California. Other than
me.
|9.24.08 @ 3:56PM|#
If you are nuttier than me, you really should consider
suspending your campaign not for the bailout, but on account of
insanity
MAVRICK, dude. MAVRICK.
BDB|9.24.08 @ 3:58PM|#
"And the people that moved here from California. Other than
me."
Easy. Build a wall at the Oregon-California border.
|9.24.08 @ 3:58PM|#
I'd totally live in a country made up of Oregon, Washington state, British Columbia, and Alaska.
Don't forget the northernmost California counties! Jeff-er-son!
Jeff-er-son!...
Russ 2000|9.24.08 @ 4:00PM|#
They could postpone it until December as far as 99% of the country is concerned.
|9.24.08 @ 4:00PM|#
Isn't a Maverick a really old car? I understand they were
considered quite sporty in their day.
BDB,
No, my feet are fine, and I'm feeling pretty mellow, actually. I do
suddenly find myself thinking that women are better-suited for
domestic work, though. Does that work for you?
BDB|9.24.08 @ 4:03PM|#
"I do suddenly find myself thinking that women are better-suited
for domestic work, though. "
HA!
jtuf|9.24.08 @ 4:04PM|#
If Obama shows up to the debate and McCain doesn't, Reason will have a virtual debate between Obama and Barr.
BDB|9.24.08 @ 4:04PM|#
I wonder if this move will piss off the MSM?
Or will they cream their collective pants and such a "mavericky"
and "post-partisan" move?
|9.24.08 @ 4:04PM|#
Easy. Build a wall at the Oregon-California
border.
You mean like a virtual fence to keep them from making a mess of
the place? That's so crazy it just might work... Or not.
Sambo|9.24.08 @ 4:05PM|#
"They're saying Obama is "panicked" and "flat
footed"again"
Secret codes for "black"
Panic, a given.
Flat foot:
"One such man is worth more to this Nation than every Negro that
ever set his flat foot on this continent!"
A Question of Character: Scientific Racism and the Genres of
American Fiction, 1892-1912
By Cathy Boeckmann
Published by University of Alabama Press, 2000
http://books.google.com/books?id=3pNbksrrM-8C&pg=PA81&lpg=PA81&dq=%22Flat+Foot%22+%22Racism&source=web&ots=GHKITIU-D6&sig=WtJ2CXR3xM1OdEiAXS_VT7nIM9w&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA78,M1
|9.24.08 @ 4:06PM|#
People are funny. Reason gets bashed for being Obama-lovers
one minute and McCain-slobberers the next. Hilarious.
If you are a partisan, every criticism of the other side is just
good journalism. Criticism directed at your own candidate is
partisan bashing.
I'd use childish rather than hilarious.
BDB|9.24.08 @ 4:07PM|#
Dude, it's the Pacific Northwest. Of course the wall would be
environmentally friendly.
Sambo--
You got a chip on your shoulder.
|9.24.08 @ 4:09PM|#
I'm a chess player. I've been playing at chess.com.
I'm not really that great, though. Sometimes, I find myself in a
match, and after a while, it become clear that I'm outclassed by my
opponent. Maybe I don't even end up down a single pawn, but I'm
just reacting to his moves and he's getting pieces out and
controlling the board.
And then, lo and behold, what is that? It's a move I can make with
my queen that's gong to totally and completely change the game in
my favor! Woo-hoo! I'm not in trouble; just wait until he gets a
load of this! Check!
You know what happens when I do that?
I lose my queen.
BDB|9.24.08 @ 4:10PM|#
McCain seems like he's already walking this back. Namely, that
if the bill does get passed he will be there. Weird.
Maybe he'll debate by video like he did with Bush in 2000?
Sambo|9.24.08 @ 4:11PM|#
"Isn't a Maverick a really old car? I understand they were
considered quite sporty in their day."
Yup!
http://www.maverick.to/pics/shaw_simpson_72_grabber.jpg
|9.24.08 @ 4:11PM|#
This is like calling "time-out" when you were a kid playing tag. Jesus, calling "time-out" is what 8 year old pussies do, Herr McCain.
zoltan|9.24.08 @ 4:12PM|#
I'd use childish rather than hilarious.
J Sub D, you just have to let go of your anger and see the
absurdity of it all. Or be like me and go on crazy, John-esque
tirades then bouncing back to tranquil serenity.
|9.24.08 @ 4:13PM|#
Why don't we just suspend the entire thing? All the debates, all
the campaigning, all the coverage. Let's just sit quietly until
election day and think about what's best for our country and the
world.
We could do worse.
In fact, we almost certainly will.
Russ 2000|9.24.08 @ 4:15PM|#
I wonder if this move will piss off the
MSM?
The networks are probably happy not to give up a night of
advertising. Debates should be on Sunday morning TV.
|9.24.08 @ 4:15PM|#
Nice pick, Sambo. If that is your real name!
That car is doing what Ford's do best: sitting completely
still.
BDB|9.24.08 @ 4:16PM|#
"That car is doing what Ford's do best: sitting completely
still."
You should add "with their engine overheated, again".
|9.24.08 @ 4:17PM|#
With McCain's self-stated ignorance on economics, wouldn't the
best thing for the country be for him to stay the fuck away from
Washington and let people that know what they're doing fix
it.
Wait a minute, no one in Washington knows what they're doing.
Point still stands.
Besides, wouldn't the involvement of either Obama or McCain overly
politicize any bill that comes out. It would probably be best for
them to stand back and just vote.
|9.24.08 @ 4:19PM|#
Seems like if he was going to go "all in" on something to bet
the whole campaign (and, poll-wise, that may not be such a bad
strategy at this point), this is the wrong way to go.
He should oppose this to the limits, throw in every free-market
argument AND every populist/lefty argument (CEO salaries... Wall
Street corruption... private profits, socialized losses) -- totally
over top.
His huge liability is, ya know, being from the same party as a
President who, if I recall correctly, has an approval rating in the
negative numbers, starting to leak into the imaginary range. This
(was) his chance to gotcha Obama; no matter how many caveats Obama
tried to put on it, in the end McCain could point to him supporting
"the administration's failed plan, only larded up with 'super
earmarks' for Democratic special interests -- the same, old
Washington insider deal."
Now his best chance is to actually accomplish something without
Obama getting some credit, and I think both of those are
unlikely.
On the other hand, maybe he really believes what he's saying. Which
further disqualifies him.
|9.24.08 @ 4:21PM|#
So many people just keep writing McCain off. All the way back to
last year when his POTUS campaign was "over".
Are you ever going to learn?
Think out of the box, just a little anyway.
|9.24.08 @ 4:23PM|#
Dood,
Unless he skips the Clinton Global Warming gala, it's super easy to
paint this as brazen politicizing.
Seitz|9.24.08 @ 4:23PM|#
What you folks don't realize is that McCain knows how to fix this mess, just like he fixed all the problems between the Sunnis and the Shiites. He's going to get the economy and the failing institutions together in a room and tell them to cut the bullshit! Problem solved.
Sambo|9.24.08 @ 4:25PM|#
"Nice pick, Sambo. If that is your real name!"
It's a bastardized contraction of Samuel Beauregard. d;
Rep. Alcee Hastings|9.24.08 @ 4:28PM|#
Rep. Alcee Hastings told an audience of Jewish Democrats
Wednesday that they should be wary of Republican VP nominee Sarah
Palin because "anybody toting guns and stripping moose don't care
too much about what they do with Jews and blacks."
"If Sarah Palin isn't enough of a reason for you to get over
whatever your problem is with Barack Obama, then you damn well had
better pay attention," Rep. Alcee Hastings of Florida said at a
panel about the shared agenda of Jewish and African-American
Democrats Wednesday. Hastings, who is African-American, was
explaining what he intended to tell his Jewish constituents about
the presidential race. "Anybody toting guns and stripping moose
don't care too much about what they do with Jews and blacks. So,
you just think this through," Hastings added as the room erupted in
laughter and applause.
BDB|9.24.08 @ 4:31PM|#
Now I know why
McCain made such a desperate move.
CNN Battleground Polls out today:
Colorado: Obama 51, McCain 47
Michigan: Obama 51, McCain 46
Montana: McCain 54, Obama 43
Pennsylvania: Obama 53, McCain 44
West Virginia: McCain 50, Obama 46
Being up in WV only as much as Obama is up in Michigan is a
godawful number. for McCain.. No wonder he's making this
gamble.
zoltan|9.24.08 @ 4:36PM|#
There are people across the internet actually commending McCain for it and saying he's doing his job and that this is "leadership" blah blah blah. The Internet, while great, sometimes makes me lose any respect I have for the great unwashed masses.
|9.24.08 @ 4:45PM|#
How arrogant of McCain - "I know that all the top minds in the
field of economics and banking are working on this 24/7, but
without my expertise they might just shit the bed. I'd better go
down there and make sure they're thinking smartly."
I'm imagining that future debates will be postponed until hunger,
cancer, and the obesity epidemic are solved in tiger team
lock-ups.
alan|9.24.08 @ 4:52PM|#
Bubba Zanetti | September 24, 2008, 3:23pm | #
One thing can be said about McCain, he keeps you on your
toes.
But I don't want to be on my toes for the next four years. If you
apply Michelle Obama's pep talk to the troops from early spring,
'Obama will acquire you . . .' to the nation you have John Mccain.
Every week some new brazen shit to stir the pot so the old bomb
thrower (talkin' Senate career here) can seem relevant.
alan|9.24.08 @ 4:55PM|#
Obama will acquire you
Ha! 'Acquire', what a slip!
and, Fluffy, your McCain list is a perfect summary.
Sambo|9.24.08 @ 4:57PM|#
"One such man is worth more to this Nation than every Negro that
ever set his flat foot on this continent!"
To clarify, that quote was actually from "The Clansman" by Thomas
F. Dixon, Jr., published in 1906. It wasn't written by Cathy
Boeckmann. She just referenced it in her book (ibid.)
KT|9.24.08 @ 4:58PM|#
"If Obama does't play along, he looks like an evil rat bastard
only interested in winning the white house."
Jeez, and here I was thinking that was the whole *point* of this
election thingy to begin with!
(I'll be right back, I have to go get some more crazy pills. This
election has me going through about a bottle a day.)
|9.24.08 @ 5:01PM|#
Obama will acquire you?
Are the campaigns volunteers really that highly
leveraged?
BDB|9.24.08 @ 5:02PM|#
I've figured out what happened.
John McCain took political advice from Bob Shrum. He actually
suggested this two days ago.
|9.24.08 @ 5:06PM|#
Whoa. Political advice from Bob Shrum? That's like starting a
land war in Asia.
Oh, wait, McCain did that, too.
|9.24.08 @ 5:08PM|#
McCain should suspend his campaign because he's too stupid to be
President, not because he's scared Obama is going to expose him for
the intellectually challenged individual he is.
I'm not an Obama fan, but at least he is willing to go in front of
the American people and discuss issues. McCain was a much better
American when he was in a cage.
|9.24.08 @ 5:20PM|#
Think out of the box, just a little anyway.
Oooh! That's clever phrasing. Can I borrow it?
|9.24.08 @ 5:24PM|#
McCain's move has just put the AGE ISSUE on the table, front and
center. Gramps doesn't have two hours for a debate? Come on, who's
anyone kidding? McCain is too old, frail, confused, and sick for a
debate.
The modern presidency is a tough job. It requires a lot of stamina.
A president must be able to handle more than one problem, even more
than one crisis, at a time. McCain can't do it, because he is too
old.
Obama should announce that he will show up to answer the
moderators' questions, and that if McCain stays home, that he'll
have his campaign send a plate of cookies, a glass of buttermilk,
an electric blanket, and a sleeping bill.
And a note suggesting that maybe it's time for Grandpa to bow out
of this race. Sorry, John. No country for old men.
Roger Maltz|9.24.08 @ 5:25PM|#
This move is going to bury Obama. Out friggin' standing in terms of intelligent political moves.
Mike Laursen|9.24.08 @ 5:27PM|#
Obama's countermove should be to offer to have the scheduled debate, but move the venue to Washington, D.C.
|9.24.08 @ 5:28PM|#
Magic Dog,
John McCain can't debate Barack Obama because of the injuries he
suffered during his captivity.
You, sir, are like a Hitler burrito, wrapped in a Mao fajita, with
low-sodium Stalin sauce.
|9.24.08 @ 5:37PM|#
So McCain totally freaks out. Like he's been found guilty of some terrible crime. This is supposed to be smart politics why?
alan|9.24.08 @ 5:46PM|#
Bravo McCain camp, sending Magic Dog in here to lower our expectations for McCain's performance. McCain taught Machiavelli a thing are two when he was hoping around Italy all those years ago.
Someone Who Doesn\'t Want to L|9.24.08 @ 6:39PM|#
3. Tendency to view the political life of the nation as just
a big John McCain Role Playing Game
Better than the goddamned D&D 4th Edition. It's just a ploy for
Wizards to squeeze us for more money.
Wait, did I say that out loud?
Grant|9.24.08 @ 7:53PM|#
This is what we would see from a McCain administration. More grandstanding, gamesmanship and bull crud non-solutions to the world's largest problems. I think the only idea he has that is worthwhile, is suspending his campaign now, since it's obvious that they've run out of ideas not named Palin.
JB|9.24.08 @ 11:17PM|#
It's probably a ploy to get Obama to call McCain chicken and then McCain will say: "Son, I was off fighting wars before you even existed as a thought in yo mamma's head."
J. Person|9.25.08 @ 2:52AM|#
John McCain skipped a David Letterman appearance to apparently
"fly immediately to Washington." But he actually went to do an
interview with Katie Couric. So where's the urgency again?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjkCrfylq-E
Anonny|9.25.08 @ 8:42AM|#
I guess it depends on what your definition of "suspend"
is.
1) His ads were still running last night.
2) Instead of going to Washington he went to NY and met with
reporters like Couric.
3) Today he continues to meet with reporters and is still going the
the Clinton conference. I supposed he'll get to Washington later
today.
Will the press call him on this? Normally I'd say not, but at this
point I think he's managed to piss off almost everyone except the
fundamentalist Palin fans.
|9.25.08 @ 8:44AM|#
Bubba Zanetti says: "One thing csn be said of McCain, he keeps us on our toes." No, actually, he makes me watch my back.
|9.25.08 @ 9:41AM|#
Sarah Palin can go debate Obama if Obama insists on talking while Rome burns. It's appropriate for a VP candidate to standin for Presidential canidate.
|9.25.08 @ 9:56AM|#
The McCain Campaign: American Opera. Is this about his celebrity envy? Next he'll be going after the Big 10 as well as the SEC. It's unacceptable my friends that after 21/2 decades of being against regulation and already embroiled in one banking scandal, having thought up to last Monday the fundamentals of our economy were sound, with this new, out of nowhere realization that hey, the Mortgage problem in financial markets--better known as Bush's Ownership Society Ponzi Scheme--was causing problems that could escalate world wide, and after being completely awol on the subject all week with the Senate committee charged with hammering some solution across, John McCain drag himself to Oxford, Mississippi and show himself in a debate with his Presidential rival Barack Obama. Unacceptable: the oratorio of it. Can you imagine 4 years of this Drama Queen?
|9.25.08 @ 10:03AM|#
As an Obama supporter, I was hoping he would get out in front
and do something LIKE McCain did (going to D.C. to be a senator at
a time of crisis ... not cancelling the debate). When McCain got
out in front, I thought there was no way Obama could win the issue.
Either he's following McCain's lead or he doesn't care about his
senatorial duties in a time of crisis. Just goes to show that Obama
is smarter than I am. His response was balls-on perfect. I mean
that dude is so cool, and his press conference was true leadership.
He is smart, and he is thoughtful, and he is unflappable. And his
substantive points were right on --
(1) (the biggest and best reason) we don't need to be injecting
presidential (partisan) politics into the delicate work being
done,
(2) he's giving input and getting updates constantly ... being in
D.C. doesn't heighten that,
(3) he can be there if needed and vote if needed, AND he can also
have a debate that the American people want (presidents need to be
able to multi-task), and
(4) now is exactly the time the people need to hear from the two
people who are vying to inherit this mess.
In a matter of hours, I saw Obama take a situation which I thought
could only be a loser for him and turn in into a home-run winner.
McCain looks intellectually sophomoric right now.
(And thanks, Pres W, for convening the meeting today -- making any
substantive advantage from McCain's action moot. And thanks Dems in
Congress for highlighting that neither one of the candidates are
needed there at this moment. And thanks McCain campaign for once
again showing that you do not have a VP candidate that can pick up
the slack in one area while you address matters in another.)
Just a great day, on top of a great couple weeks, for the Obama
campaign.
flingcom|9.25.08 @ 10:17AM|#
It all about getting into the white house... all playing along so that the power is there to grab...blah blah blah
|9.25.08 @ 10:51AM|#
McCain is a man. Obama is a child. Solving this financial crisis is a job for a man. Screw all the "talk" and "debate" - let's see some ACTION.
|9.25.08 @ 11:11AM|#
I thought McCain was racing to Washington yesterday to save the world--if he was, he sure didn't take the non-stop route--CBS News last night and the Global Initive this morning. No time for debate--excuses, excuses!
|9.25.08 @ 11:17AM|#
These presidential "debates" are not debates. They are moderated joint appearances. Sometime this weekend, perhaps even Friday night, the Senate will likely be conducting a real debate on whatever bailout proposals come forth. That is where these two men belong.
|9.25.08 @ 11:49AM|#
John McCain is pretending to be so concerned about the Country
and the economy; however, he does not give a hoot about the STATE
of MS and its ECONOMY. More specifically, our state has spent a lot
of money getting ready for this debate, not to mention the millions
spent by the University.
Both of these men have jets. As Obama said, they could be in MS
within hours and also that a President should be able to
multi-task. I think that this is a political ploy and McCain is
sticking out like a sore thumb.
Let's not forget his Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf stunt. He
tried to make it to
Grand Ma's house first. LOL!
|9.25.08 @ 11:55AM|#
McCain surrogates are still on television bashing Obama. McCain is not suspending his campaign. This is really, really lame. The guy is erratic and not stable. I don't want him running the country.
|9.25.08 @ 12:18PM|#
A few things about the Democratic messiah.
Obama's first big decision, he picks Joe (Where am I) Biden instead
of Clinton. How big of an ego does this jerk have. He may still win
but with Hillary, it wouldn't even have been close and no one
except for Alaskans would have ever heard of Palin.
How can anyone question Palin's religion when Obama has been
listening to The Right Reverend (God Damn America) Wright for 20
years?
Obama said that his daughters "shouldn't have to pay for a
"mistake" (Unwanted pregnancy). So he's O.K. if his daughters kill
his grand kids. He's also for late term abortions, that's a
euphemism for live birth abortions or killing babies out of the
womb.
Be careful what you wish for folks.
|9.25.08 @ 1:13PM|#
Just what America needs: Two more Ivy League educated lawyer
douchebags in the Whitehouse. Come on people, can't you see what
the Democratic party has become? That party is nothing but a
collection of lawyers trying to ruin individual freedoms once step
at a time. The believe in the total Socialisation of the American
economy and workforce. And now the pin heads of the MoveOn.Org ilk
are pushing the empty suit that is Obama on the rest of us like
he's the next coming of the Messiah. All the democrats do is try to
divide Americans: Rich vs Poor, Black vs White, Brown vs Black,
Yellow vs Black, Gay vs Straight, Islamic Jihadist vs Loyal
American. Barack "The Messiah
" Obama won't even admitt that Al Queda is an evil organization,
and yet is quick to point out that evil flourishes in Americas
inner cities.
Lets be honest for one second Libs, you have run education in this
country since the late 50's, and what have you done? We spend more
money then any other nation on earth per student and get results
that are a crying shame. Almost every major city has an exclusively
liberal city council and mayor and yet crime and violence continue
to rise. Universities have become hotbeds of political intolerance
towards conservative students.
Todays Democrat party is nothing but a huge shill for Lawyers and
Leches.
PS: Want proof the current economic crisis was caused by democrat
ideals? Notice how no one person is getting blamed? Why is that you
may ask...because these programs were by and large the creation of
democrats.
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