McCain suspends campaign temporarily and asks for postponement of debate

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Here's another thing: this bill will not pass if it makes Barack Obama look bad. The Democrats control Congress, they have the numbers, and such a bailout will not pass if it paints Obama in the corner.

Ah, of course.  We'd all forgotten that the Democratic majority in Congress is a cohesive and boldly-led unit with effective handling of PR and unanimous support for Barack Obama.

Harry Reid has been uncharacteristically nimble on this issue today.

The Dems in Congress don't want to hand McCain ammunition he can use against them. Functionally, it means they're serving Obama's interests.

Democrats in congress are not going to shoot themselves in the foot to help Barack Obama here.  If McCain and Democrats can't work out a compromise, then everyone looks bad.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Here's another thing: this bill will not pass if it makes Barack Obama look bad. The Democrats control Congress, they have the numbers, and such a bailout will not pass if it paints Obama in the corner.

The more and more I think about this, the more and more I think the McCain campaign really ed up. They gambled and they will lose here. This might have worked if the GOP was still in charge of Congress.

And if nothing gets done, who gets the blame?  The Democratic controlled Congress who doesn't want to hurt the fragile image of Obama.  Does that make any sense?

If nothing gets done, both sides get blamed equally, and the focus is back on President Bush.

Advantage? Democrats.

I would say that would be a disadvange to the Democrats, as they are the responsible party for putting together the package, compliments to all of their hearings on the matter.

The incumbent presidential party always gets blamed for stuff like this. Most Americans don't care who is running the committees.

Like when Bill Clinton got blamed for the government shut down of 1995 and Republicans got all the glory?  Yuh huh.

[Brittain33]

Ok, let's recap:

Republicans: Great idea! McCain scores!
Democrats: Lousy idea! What a maroon!

Any exceptions? Green avatars with leans don't count.

[Alcon]

Ok, let's recap:

Republicans: Great idea! McCain scores!
Democrats: Lousy idea! What a maroon!

Any exceptions? Fake green avatars don't count.

I'll take the plunge just to support your theory, mostly because I think it's right

[Brittain33]

Ok, let's recap:

Republicans: Great idea! McCain scores!
Democrats: Lousy idea! What a maroon!

Any exceptions? Fake green avatars don't count.

I'll take the plunge just to support your theory, mostly because I think it's right

Aw man, you missed my diplomatic revision.

[cinyc]

America thinks the republicans on this board are wrong

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReportEmail.aspx?g=54d651a7-a62b-4420-bb32-9dd6b2df8c02

A poll of Adults?  Please.  Give it time - the poll numbers will change.  Remember - the President is going on prime time TV tonight to talk about the bailout package.

This will all work to McCain's advantage.   No matter what Obama does, he looks like a follower now, not a leader.

[Torie]

Here's another thing: this bill will not pass if it makes Barack Obama look bad. The Democrats control Congress, they have the numbers, and such a bailout will not pass if it paints Obama in the corner.

Ah, of course.  We'd all forgotten that the Democratic majority in Congress is a cohesive and boldly-led unit with effective handling of PR and unanimous support for Barack Obama.

Harry Reid has been uncharacteristically nimble on this issue today.

The Dems in Congress don't want to hand McCain ammunition he can use against them. Functionally, it means they're serving Obama's interests.

Reid wanted McCain in DC this morning, and not in DC this afternoon. What changed?

I just love it all. McCain will be in DC and not in Mississippi or elsewhere no matter what the Dems and or the media or the University of Mississippi want. It is a thing of beauty.

[Alcon]

America thinks the republicans on this board are wrong

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReportEmail.aspx?g=54d651a7-a62b-4420-bb32-9dd6b2df8c02

A poll of Adults?  Please.

It's not like a poll of RVs or LVs would be likely to be much different...people don't know which way is up yet.

[Torie]

America thinks the republicans on this board are wrong

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReportEmail.aspx?g=54d651a7-a62b-4420-bb32-9dd6b2df8c02

Well if a poll disagrees with me, then it is time to change my mind!

[Sam Spade]

Ok, let's recap:

Republicans: Great idea! McCain scores!
Democrats: Lousy idea! What a maroon!

Any exceptions? Green avatars with leans don't count.

I kind of liked the original idea... 

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

America thinks the republicans on this board are wrong

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReportEmail.aspx?g=54d651a7-a62b-4420-bb32-9dd6b2df8c02

A poll taken when the news first broke and the majority of Americans still being at work will be real accurate, right?

[Meeker]

Further proof that John McCain is an erratic and crazy old man. What a joke.

[Keystone Phil]

Further proof that John McCain is an erratic and crazy old man. What a joke.

This is far from erratic or crazy.

[Gustaf]

Fascinating. I have no idea whether this is smart or not. It seems to me that it is a little too dependent on media spin - given that the media is overall probably more favourable to Obama that could doom it.

But it may be the kind of thing McCain needed to get the economy on his side, so to speak.

[Marokai Backbeat]

This an insane idea that does nothing to solve the problems we're currently facing. McCain doesn't want to postpone the debate out of the noble cause of saving the economy, he wants to avoid talking about the economy. This does nothing to show McCain understands the economy nor would be a savior of it, it just shows that McCain has been taken over by the old political game of "election first."

[Torie]

Further proof that John McCain is an erratic and crazy old man. What a joke.

This is far from erratic or crazy.

The Dem comments are very entertaining Phil. One should not do anything to discourage more of them.

[Sam Spade]

I will say something that I'm pretty sure all will take as rather non-partisan:

This whole election cycle (primary/general) has been altogether maybe the craziest election cycle I've ever seen.

[Meeker]

Further proof that John McCain is an erratic and crazy old man. What a joke.

This is far from erratic or crazy.

Put down the Kool-Aid Phil.

[Torie]

This an insane idea that does nothing to solve the problems we're currently facing. McCain doesn't want to postpone the debate out of the noble cause of saving the economy, he wants to avoid talking about the economy. This does nothing to show McCain understands the economy nor would be a savior of it, it just shows that McCain has been taken over by the old political game of "election first."

One little problem with your speculation, is that the debate is not on the economy; it's on foreign policy.

In any  event, McCain will be talking about the economy - in DC.

[Lief 🗽]

I will say something that I'm pretty sure all will take as rather non-partisan:

This whole election cycle (primary/general) has been altogether maybe the craziest election cycle I've ever seen.

1992?

[Keystone Phil]

Further proof that John McCain is an erratic and crazy old man. What a joke.

This is far from erratic or crazy.

Put down the Kool-Aid Phil.

Look whose talking.

It's one thing to think this was a dumb move but it's not erratic. Don't be too pissed that Obama didn't propose it first.

[Torie]

I will say something that I'm pretty sure all will take as rather non-partisan:

This whole election cycle (primary/general) has been altogether maybe the craziest election cycle I've ever seen.

Yep. But then you were not alive in 1968.

[ps79]

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReportUC.aspx?g=54d651a7-a62b-4420-bb32-9dd6b2df8c02

[Marokai Backbeat]

This an insane idea that does nothing to solve the problems we're currently facing. McCain doesn't want to postpone the debate out of the noble cause of saving the economy, he wants to avoid talking about the economy. This does nothing to show McCain understands the economy nor would be a savior of it, it just shows that McCain has been taken over by the old political game of "election first."

One little problem with your speculation, is that the debate is not on the economy; it's on foreign policy.

In any  event, McCain will be talking about the economy - in DC.

The conductors of the debate would be insane to not talk about the economy. The subjects were decided long before this issue came up and can be easily shifted to do just that. We don't need a postponement of the debate at all. This is precisely the time for explaining one's ideas to the public, instead of hiding out in Washington and pretending to know what you're doing.

[Sam Spade]

I will say something that I'm pretty sure all will take as rather non-partisan:

This whole election cycle (primary/general) has been altogether maybe the craziest election cycle I've ever seen.

1992?

Nothing like this.