McCain suspends campaign temporarily and asks for postponement of debate

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

The Obama campaign would flip if McCain takes Letterman up at his offer - and sends Sarah Palin to the debate.

that would be GREAT!

[daboese]

If it is supposed to be bipartisan, why not make it bipartisan?
Why does just one side say:"We suspend our campaign", without talking to the other side? Questions over questions...

[Franzl]

If it is supposed to be bipartisan, why not make it bipartisan?
Why does just one side say:"We suspend our campaign", without talking to the other side? Questions over questions...

If you believe Obama, they supposedly DID speak with each other.

[daboese]

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Yeah, but not necessarily that far that they have come to an agreement. And Obama did not say anything about him knowing that McCain would suspend his campaign unilaterally.

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

anyone else have a headache?

[Marokai Backbeat]

anyone else have a headache?

From impulsive and dramatic acts of political theatre that do nothing to solve issues? Ive had one for weeks now.

[© tweed]

anyone else have a headache?

From impulsive and dramatic acts of political theatre that do nothing to solve issues? Ive had one for weeks now.

if that's the case you don't belong at a political message board.

[daboese]

In fact, McCain said he informed Obama that he made the decision to suspend the campaign.
That is really bipartisan.

[Marokai Backbeat]

anyone else have a headache?

From impulsive and dramatic acts of political theatre that do nothing to solve issues? Ive had one for weeks now.

if that's the case you don't belong at a political message board.

Its a terrible addiction.

[Meeker]

I'm asking if you're serious because that's not even relevant. I guess he shouldn't do his job because some colleagues don't like him?

Again, a few screws loose up there, pal...

The reason it's relevant is that McCain and his minions are making it sound like he's going to run back to Washington and fix everything, when the reality is that McCain isn't as nearly an important player in the Senate as he likes to make himself out to be, and part of the reason is that a lot of his colleagues personally dislike him.

...

Did the campaign plan take into account a market crash?

I'm supposed to believe you're involved in politics and yet you act surprised when strategy changes. Wow.

I don't mind a change in strategy when it makes sense to do so. This wasn't necessary. The course that the McCain campaign had been on the past few weeks was fine. Then he decided to change it completely (he actually decided to stop it) on a whim. It's completely erratic.

He's claiming that he called McCain "first." It's on the news. Check that out sometime.

He called McCain to discuss a press release, not a suspension of the campaign. Use facts occasionally. It helps.

Again, because you (the opposition) weren't made aware, that's supposed to be a bad thing?

You're either ignoring what I'm saying or can't comprehend it. I'm criticizing him for being erratic, not for not letting us know about his foolish ideas beforehand.

[Keystone Phil]

The reason it's relevant is that McCain and his minions are making it sound like he's going to run back to Washington and fix everything, when the reality is that McCain isn't as nearly an important player in the Senate as he likes to make himself out to be, and part of the reason is that a lot of his colleagues personally dislike him.

...

Or he's doing his job. You're being extremely hackish with this "He isn't important" nonsense.

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Ok, you don't find it necessary. What do you care?

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I didn't say what he called about. All we see is Obama saying, "I called him first!" It sounds whiney.

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Pal, I understand what you're saying. You're mad because he made a change in his campaign strategy without telling anyone.

Do you want a phone call on our GOTV efforts, too?

[Stranger in a strange land]

Am I the only one who thinks it might not be such a good idea for McCain to be seen as closely associated with the bailout?

[cp]

Wait a minute, how long does it actually take to participate in one of these debates? Two hours? Add on flight time to/from Washington and you've got 6 hours, max. And that's assuming they have a phone blackout on the plane.

Even if McCain and Obama were the pivotal, most informed figures in forming a solution (which they aren't) they could still spare 6 hours away from the halls of power. If McCain wants a solution by the time the markets reopen on Monday then he's got two full days after the debates until that happens: plenty of time to figure something out.

Suspending the campaigns is even less justifiable. There have been Presidential campaigns during depression, world war, even civil war. If those crises weren't reason enough to suspend radio ads and volunteer canvassing then there's no way this counts.

McCain's running scared and flailing, trying to change the media coverage back to a story that benefits him. Hardly bipartisan or patriotic, this is naked self-interest. Thankfully Obama's not playing along, which would just play into McCain's hand. McCain still may pull this off and come out looking good, but if his campaign's relying on these kinds of tactics then he's in WAY more trouble than people think.

[Meeker]

...

Or he's doing his job. You're being extremely hackish with this "He isn't important" nonsense.

So concerned with his job that he's missed something like 60% of the votes while campaigning? He's using his job for political gain. I'm not saying he shouldn't (Obama does as well), but you shouldn't try to pass this off as him doing his electoral duty. It's him seeing an opportunity and trying to gain from it.

And he isn't important. At all. Frank and Reid (they guys, you know, actually making the plan) say they don't care what the hell he thinks.

Ok, you don't find it necessary. What do you care?

I was just commenting that it was erratic. I never said I cared.

I didn't say what he called about. All we see is Obama saying, "I called him first!" It sounds whiney.

First you imply that suspending the campaign was a brilliant strategic move and that Obama is angry he didn't get to propose it first, and now you're saying that it's about "sounding whiney"? Pick your talking point.

Pal, I understand what you're saying. You're mad because he made a change in his campaign strategy without telling anyone.

Do you want a phone call on our GOTV efforts, too?

Again, if you used basic reading comprehension skills...

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[angus]

oh, yeah.  I just saw on the Newshour with Jim Lehrer that Obama has rejected McCain's request to "put partisan politics aside" and forego the debate.

While I respect the concept of demolishing the two political parties, and respect Washington's best advice that we not form them to begin with, I don't think this is a good idea to set aside this debate.  If they're smart, they'll both agree to change the topic.  Change it to economics.  But keep the debate.  Of course, I want to see these two US Senators in the Senate chamber--possibly doing their paid jobs for the first time in months--attending hearings and maybe even voting against the bailout, and I hope they get off the campaign wagon and start doing the jobs for which they're paid.  But I don't think either of them should use the bailout as an excuse to bail out of a debate. 

By the way, I have already emailed Senators Harkin and Grassley regarding the expenditure of huge sums of public money and "investing" in banks.  I'd encourage all posters here to do the same.  Whether you agree with me or not about the expenditure, you should at least take the time to contact your elected officials and let them know how you feel.   They're still talking about "reaching an agreement quickly."  Unless you have been under a rock your whole life you know that "reaching a quick agreement" usually means committing to spending large chunks of money wastefully and inefficiently.  Let them do their jobs.  But let's also do ours.  Write your congressman and senator, today.

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

children, please stop the petty arguing with Phil

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

why do I get the feeling McCain is going to use this as an opportunity to send Palin to debate Obama Friday night?  Now, that would be some high stakes poker, buddy!

[Keystone Phil]

So concerned with his job that he's missed something like 60% of the votes while campaigning? He's using his job for political gain. I'm not saying he shouldn't (Obama does as well), but you shouldn't try to pass this off as him doing his electoral duty. It's him seeing an opportunity and trying to gain from it.

And how many votes has Obama missed? If anything, this is making up for those missed votes. Obama isn't doing that.

And this isn't his "electoral" duty; it's his Senatorial duty. Whether it is being done for political gain or not shouldn't matter. They all use it for political gain at some point.

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Well, I don't know who "Frank" is but I wouldn't exactly care what Reid has to say on the issue. Of course he's going to say he doesn't care what McCain thinks, genius! He's the (ineffective) leader of the other side!

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It's not "crazy" though. It was a campaign decision that you happen to dislike.

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...

The two aren't mutually exclusive. Obama can be (and I believe is) angry that he didn't propose it first and now he's whining.

[quote ]

Again, if you used basic reading comprehension skills...

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[/quote]

I don't think you sat down with the man during a campaign strategy session so unless you have proof that he just came up with the idea and rushed into it without advisors commenting on it, hush up.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Considering how well the rose garden strategy worked for Carter (i.e. cut down on campaigning to deal with a crisis) what was McCain (and more importantly, the campaign professionals that are working for) thinking when he came up with this idiotic stunt?  It has been enough to shift me from Strong McCain to Lean McCain.

[Ronnie]

McCain is an idiot.  That's all I have to say...

[Meeker]

I've got to get back to work... you win the war of attrition, Phil

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

McCain is an idiot.  That's all I have to say...

Well, this is highly unusual, and you have to wonder, "What gives?"  But it's not has bad as Bush picking Miers for the SCOTUS - now THAT was the dumbest thing I've ever seen.

I have to think McCain has something up his sleeve.  But McCain has overplayed his hand before (e.g. the lipstick thingy).

If not, then maybe McCain's polling was telling him it was over and he thought he had to choice...but I haven't seen that in the polls.

Or maybe his meeting with business leaders scared him silly and we really are about to enter a new depression.

[Ban my account ffs!]

I think the economic crisis has the potential to be really really bad and nobody wants to come off that way because they don't want people to panic.

But I think Americans are so numb and high on prescription drugs and fatty junk food that we don't really care as long as NASCAR doesn't get canceled.

[Aizen]

Is McCain retarded?

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

Is McCain retarded?

I'm beginning to think so after learning he also wants to postpone the Palin-Biden debate.  McCain is better off having Biden destroy Palin than to continue to appear afraid to open her up for questions.