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Stop Me if You Think That You've Heard This One Before
Today was hardly the first time John McCain has put Country First by showily "suspending" his campaign for the White House. On March 31, 1999, a week before his scheduled "official announcement" confirming the months-old news that he was running for president, and a week after Bill Clinton sent bombers over Kosovo, McCain announced that "It's not appropriate at this time to launch a political campaign."
How'd that work for him politically? According to sympathetic biographer Robert Timberg,
His decision amounted to a masterful political stroke. The Washington Post's Mary McGrory said that "professional politicians of both parties were wowed by McCain's beau geste.... McCain has made himself the de facto Republican foreign policy spokesman, and is getting yards of publicity for a non-event." The kudos kept pouring in, as did even more demands for him to appear on news-oriented TV talk shows. On one day alone, Monday, April 5, he could be seen arguing his case on Fox News's Crier Report, CNN's Larry King Live, PBS's Charlie Rose, two programs on CNBC, and two more on MSNBC, according to the Post's Dan Balz. Balz quoted one Republican strategist as labeling the conflict in Kosovo "All McCain, all the time." By week's end, syndicated columnist Mark Shields, on CNN's Capital Gang, said, "Let me just say in thirty-five years in Washington, I have never seen a debate dominated by an individual in the minority party as I've seen this one dominated by John McCain."
As Jake Tapper reported, in a May 1999 Salon piece that began with the phrase "First, a confession: Sen. John McCain almost seduced me":
"It tells people, here's a guy who doesn't need consultants to tell him what he believes in," says Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., another McCain 2000 co-chairman. "Contrast that with who's been leading this country for the last seven years."
"He's surged in New Hampshire," brags [Warren] Rudman. "He went from 3 percent to 15 percent in just a month."
As [Sen. Gordon] Smith puts it, "He's won the Kosovo primary."
|9.24.08 @ 6:26PM|#
Matt who are you going to vote for President?
Please answer now. You know who you are going to vote for or not
vote, so just tell us.
Thanks
Matt Welch|9.24.08 @ 6:32PM|#
Terry -- I haven't decided yet. I newly live in the District of Columbia, which will go 95% Obama, so chances are very strong I will use that "opportunity" to throw a third party a bone, and at this point I prefer the LP over the other ones.
Paul|9.24.08 @ 7:20PM|#
My guess is this gesture will win him as many presidential
campaigns as it's won him before.
Is there any way we can get him to suspend it until after the
election?
Neu Mejican|9.24.08 @ 7:27PM|#
Obama's response:
NEW YORK - The economic crisis and raw politics threatened to
derail the first presidential debate as John McCain challenged
Barack Obama to delay the Friday forum and join forces to help
Washington fix the financial mess. Obama rebuffed his GOP rival,
saying "It's my belief that this is exactly the time when the
American people need to hear from the person who, in approximately
40 days, will be responsible for dealing with this mess," ... "It's
going to be part of the president's job to deal with more than one
thing at once."...Obama said he would proceed with his debate
preparations while consulting with bailout negotiators and Treasury
Secretary Henry Paulson."..."My sense is there's going to be a
stage, a moderator, an audience and at least one presidential
candidate.
From AP
SIV|9.24.08 @ 7:42PM|#
I hope it works for McCain this time. Good for Welch's book
sales, good for my gun rights. If I gotta eat a shit sandwich I
want to chose the "red" flavor!
Those blue shit sandwiches just taste like shit.
FWIW, I'm still voting for my fellow Georgian Bob Barr.
Syd|9.24.08 @ 7:46PM|#
I hope the country doesn't fall for this false act of "patriotism." My guess is McCain saw himself down by nine points in one poll and is really desperate.
Mark|9.24.08 @ 8:25PM|#
It's one of those sneaky flash popup ads.
Does anyone know why the suggestion that the gov't buy a 50%
interest in some actual mortgages has not gained more support? It
seems to attack the problem at the root without rewarding the evil
speculators on Wall St. (it does, however, reward irresponsible
FL/CA homebuyers but it's better than a $700 billion blank
check).
|9.24.08 @ 8:35PM|#
Have you read McCain's mind Matt? Maybe he actually wants to do
something. Maybe that something is misguided. If it is I would like
to hear why. But I don't see where you or anyone else has a right
to question his integrity. His sollutions, absolutely, but I think
every person even politicians have a right to be taken at their
word.
I honestly don't know what to think. A lot of very smart people I
respect like Richard Becker think the Paulson plan is the
sollution. A lot of other whom I also respect think it is madness.
I would like to think Reason would have something intelligent to
add to that conversation.
If McCain hadn't suspended his campaign in 1999, you would be on
here pointing to that fact saying "McCain didn't think a war was
important enough to stop campaigning, why so concerned now?"
Regardless of what McCain does or doesn't do, you will be on here
bitching about it. Obama in contrast can promise to mandate
national service and leftist indocrtination to all 12 year olds and
you have nary a word to say. You are just a snarky prick when it
comes to McCain.
|9.24.08 @ 8:43PM|#
"Have you read McCain's mind Matt? Maybe he actually wants to do
something."
The dude knows jack shit about finance and (by his admission) the
economy. What he "wants to do" is probably go to DC and push for
the unmodified Paulson clusterfuck plan, because that's what Bush
wants.
|9.24.08 @ 9:11PM|#
"But I don't see where you or anyone else has a right to
question his integrity."
Yeah, questioning the motives of politicians is just crazy!
John, you feel the same way about Obama, or Hillary or Bill Clinton
I'm sure, that their integrity should not be questioned...
BDB|9.24.08 @ 9:11PM|#
Anyone who doesn't think this is a purely (albiet misguided) political move is either a low-info voter or a partisan hack.
|9.24.08 @ 9:19PM|#
John,
Name one other event in history that suspended a presidential
campaign. This is McCain's last ditch effort because he's getting
beat.
|9.24.08 @ 9:22PM|#
"Regardless of what McCain does or doesn't do, you will be on
here bitching about it. Obama in contrast can promise to mandate
national service and leftist indocrtination to all 12 year olds and
you have nary a word to say. You are just a snarky prick when it
comes to McCain."
John, try being a hack less. Just last week Welch had an article
making the libertarian case FOR John McCain.
It's fascinating to see the right wing hacks falling all over
themselves to protect McCain. Look back over a year ago and McCain
was one of the more hated "RINO's" attacked regularly by
conservative activists (for campaign finance reform, "betraying"
Bush on tax cuts, Iraq and torture, taking on tobacco, etc.).
Libertarians have been hating on McCain for a long time, Matt is
just being consistent with his principles, something you probably
don't seem to value...
|9.24.08 @ 9:23PM|#
"This is McCain's last ditch effort because he's getting
beat."
I still think he will probably win this.
Geotpf|9.24.08 @ 9:30PM|#
I think Barney Frank said it best:
"It's the longest Hail Mary pass in the history of either football
or Marys."
This is a OMGIMGOINGTOLOSEMUSTDOSOMETHINGNOWWITHOUTTHINKINGFIRST
move on McCain's part, something he has a habit of doing. Prior to
today, I thought that Obama was going to win the election, but that
it will be quite close. Assuming that McCain really skips the
Friday debate (that is, they don't manage to pass something in the
next two days), and that Obama debates an empty podium, I now
expect Obama to win by double digits.
If they do pass something and McCain doesn't go through with his
threat, then it's not that a big deal, although it will knock a
point or two off McCain's numbers. The only way that McCain wins
here is if he personally writes whatever the final bill that passes
and everybody likes it-which isn't going to happen since Pelosi and
Reid controll the language of what specifically gets voted on.
BDB|9.24.08 @ 9:34PM|#
MNG--
If you think McCain will win this you're doing some really good
drugs. He's dead.
BDB|9.24.08 @ 9:36PM|#
I mean for God's sake he's behind in Virginia and Colorado and
*Within the margin of error* in fucking West Virginia! He's also
beating him solidly (+50%!) in the rustbelt. Late in the game.
Obama is running away with it
Before you give me Bradley Effect horseshit find an example that
isn't from the 1980s.
MJ|9.24.08 @ 9:42PM|#
This is the type of lame crap McCain has pulled throughout his
career that has made him one of the most annoyingly self-righteous
little pricks in politics. The bailout bill is important but at
best it's a bad solution out of choices of even worse ones, it will
have lousy repercussions down the road. Any legisltion that needs
to be rushed the way this one is will turn out to be a travesty in
the end. The debate, and the Presidential election are also
important. It does not serve the voters to dismiss an event helpful
to making descision in that as some sort of petty game.
Senator McCain, the partisan differences exist because the people
in the parties actually have differeng ideas on how the country
should be run, they are not merely being difficult for the heck of
it. Get over yourself, sir.
|9.24.08 @ 9:43PM|#
BDB,
Ever read about how they put a chain around a baby elephant's leg,
so it will learn that it can't break a leash, and for the rest of
its life you can keep in from wandering off with a length of twine
and a six inch peg?
BDB|9.24.08 @ 9:46PM|#
Ever read about how they put a chain around a baby
elephant's leg, so it will learn that it can't break a leash, and
for the rest of its life you can keep in from wandering off with a
length of twine and a six inch peg?
Are you suggesting Democrats are the baby elephant, and the six
inch chain is a combination of Humphrey, McGovern, Carter 1980,
Mondale, Dukakis, Gore, and Kerry?
That'd totally explain why I'm not a Democrat but am more bullish
about your prospects this year than actual Democrats.
BDB|9.24.08 @ 9:53PM|#
I didn't even think that it was a foregone conclusion the Democrats would get it this year. Until Denver, then I knew they weren't going to fuck this up.
|9.24.08 @ 9:54PM|#
No, wait, Reagan and Bush are the chain, and Mondale and Dukakis are...uh...nearby budding trees...uhhhhh...can we come back to me?
BDB|9.24.08 @ 10:24PM|#
However I'm begging to wonder with all the fuck ups that have happened in the last eight years if the Presidency is that great of a "prize" for the Democrats. I have a feeling the next President will last one term.
|9.24.08 @ 10:41PM|#
However I'm begging to wonder with all the fuck ups that
have happened in the last eight years if the Presidency is that
great of a "prize" for the Democrats. I have a feeling the next
President will last one term.
I look at it this way:
If Obama wins, I feel sorry for him.
If McCain wins, I feel sorry for us.
And no matter who wins, my reaction will be:
"I don't fucking believe it!"
McCain/Palin|9.24.08 @ 10:47PM|#
Stop Me if You Think That You've Heard This One
Before
Who said we lied, because we never, we never. Who said we lied,
because we never!
|9.24.08 @ 11:10PM|#
"This is a
OMGIMGOINGTOLOSEMUSTDOSOMETHINGNOWWITHOUTTHINKINGFIRST move on
McCain's part, something he has a habit of doing."
Like the one where he saw Obama's packed stadium, shit himself, and
picked Palin, the gift that keeps on giving.
I just hope to God he doesn't have one of these mavericky panic
seizures in relation to the bailout. He'd take the position 180
degrees away from the correct one.
gmatts|9.25.08 @ 12:01AM|#
"John,
Name one other event in history that suspended a presidential
campaign"
I believe that the WAR ON TERROR! was an event that suspended Mitt
Romney's campaign for president.
I've got the quote right here:
"In this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of
aiding a surrender to terror. This is not an easy decision. I hate
to lose,"
I promise everyone that I did not make up a single word of
that.
|9.25.08 @ 12:23AM|#
This is a
OMGIMGOINGTOLOSEMUSTDOSOMETHINGNOWWITHOUTTHINKINGFIRST move on
McCain's part, something he has a habit of doing.
Yes. And now he's going to Washington, where he will get in a room
with people who are having an
OMGIMGOINGTOLOSEMUSTDOSOMETHINGNOWWITHOUTTHINKINGFIRST moment of
their own, about the economic situation.
Yay!
|9.25.08 @ 1:07AM|#
I think the wheels may very well be falling off the McCain/Palin campaign, they both are looking to try to get out of debates, neither one of them will give press conferences, what is going on? Has there ever been a campaign who fled responsibility and scruiny like this? It takes maximum spin to tell me that McCain comes out of this looking anything but weak and cowardly. McChicken...
KC Bomber|9.25.08 @ 4:19AM|#
James: Has there ever been a campaign who fled
responsibility and scruiny like this?
I wasn't born then, but this sounds a lot like Muskie '72.
JMR|9.25.08 @ 7:51AM|#
McCain's strategy also has to do with not spending as much
money, since he's harnessed to his own campaign speech control
legislation & Obama isn't.
I ask Republicans who are outraged by reactions of suspicion
regarding McCain's motives to imagine the following: Obama trying
to postpone a debate in favor of going to Washington, DC in the
wake of a hypothetical large scale terrorist attack on a US city.
Somehow, in that circumstance, I suspect you'd think they can
multitask & hold a debate, too.
Well, that's how some Republicans who aren't admitting the
political aspect of this happen to look from the outside.
|9.25.08 @ 10:34AM|#
The dude knows jack shit about finance and (by his
admission) the economy.
Putting him pretty much on par with everybody else in the Senate,
including his opponent.
It's my belief that this is exactly the time when the American
people need to hear from the person who, in approximately 40 days,
will be responsible for dealing with this mess,"
I think Obama's right about this.
"It's going to be part of the president's job to deal with more
than one thing at once."
Since Obama isn't dealing with anything right now except getting
Obama elected, I'm not sure what his point is. If he was going back
to DC to discharge his duties as a Senator, then he would be
multi-asking (as he defines it). But he's not.
|9.25.08 @ 1:10PM|#
"I think every person even politicians have a right to be taken
at their word."
Bawaaa!
"Even politicians..."
Oh Ho ho ha ho
snort, gag.....stomach hurts...
Gotta peeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Randolph Miller|9.25.08 @ 2:49PM|#
The debates were a sham anyway. What good is a debate without
the candidates?
http://www.bobbarr2008.com/
|9.25.08 @ 4:22PM|#
If John McCain would just stop lying to everybody, and do something no other politician has ever done before, level with the American people about what is really going on in Washington, he might just win.
|9.25.08 @ 5:57PM|#
Another day another Skunk smelling up the joint.
Maybe someone should introduce John McSkunk to the INTERNET.
Evan|9.25.08 @ 6:17PM|#
Please:
Fool me once shame on you.
Fool me twice shame on me.
I think people can see this for what it is a mile away. A Political
Stunt
|9.25.08 @ 6:21PM|#
Salon existed in 1999??!!
McCain is a terrible tool, but this news (about Salon) indicates
that the problems in America are worse than we thought.
Now a 201k|9.25.08 @ 6:36PM|#
"Those Who Forget History Are Doomed to Repeat It." Charles Keating, as told to John McCain over a working vacation - 1989.
The Alien Patriot|9.25.08 @ 6:42PM|#
Maybe the man has principles and they didn't change over the
last 9 years.
TAP
ChaosGroove|9.25.08 @ 10:37PM|#
"I think every person even politicians have a right to be taken
at their word."
Aaaaahhhahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahhhhhhhhhhhhahahahahahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhahahahahhahahaha.
Oh God that was priceless.
a palin |9.25.08 @ 11:00PM|#
The real point:
1. Postpone the debate until the day of the VP debate.
2. Cancel the VP debate.
-> Gov. Palin isn't forcefully outed as an idiot (by Sen.
Biden).
karen|9.26.08 @ 2:14AM|#
McCain, is the Master of political theater, it will not work this time, period.
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