McCain suspends campaign to go back to DC to work on bailout

[pbear19]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

And now I have Dead or Alive stuck in my head, thanks.

You spin me right round baby right round...

Bless you, nittanyalum.

I thought this was interesting, per Politico:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: ...it would not be helpful at this time to have [McCain and Obama] come back during these negotiations and risk injecting presidential politics into this process or distract important talks about the future of our nation’s economy. If that changes, we will call upon them. We need leadership; not a campaign photo op.

I think that they should be there to vote on the issue, but I think anything more than that is political posturing. Whether it's the right thing to do or not doesn't make it posturing any less. And turning the issue into more of a political circus than it already is will only worsen the situation exponentially.

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by pbear19

Bless you, nittanyalum.

I thought this was interesting, per Politico:



I think that they should be there to vote on the issue, but I think anything more than that is political posturing. Whether it's the right thing to do or not doesn't make it posturing any less. And turning the issue into more of a political circus than it already is will only worsen the situation exponentially.

I agree.

He is just trying to suspend Friday's debate... because he knows it's a fight he cannot win

[pbear19]

I agree that Reid is posturing. But I also think he's right. As I said, I think Obama and McCain should vote on the issue, and they are welcome to discuss it in their campaign speeches, in the debate, and behind the scenes as much as they need to. But I don't think they should be in the middle of it, physically in Washington, making the discussions on the Hill go that much slower, and politicizing it that much more. That's more harmful than helpful, which is why, regardless of why Reid said what he said, and regardless of the fact that it is absolutely posturing, I agree with the sentiment.

As for playing the blame game, both sides have done that, and it's equally ridiculous at this point from other side. (Almost as ridiculous as trying to boil the whole years-in-the-making disaster down to a single act.) Don't think the republicans' hands are clean of trying to place the blame on the democrats.

[KDAngel]

Originally Posted by pbear19

Bless you, nittanyalum.

I thought this was interesting, per Politico:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: ...it would not be helpful at this time to have [McCain and Obama] come back during these negotiations and risk injecting presidential politics into this process or distract important talks about the future of our nation’s economy. If that changes, we will call upon them. We need leadership; not a campaign photo op.

Actually Reid yesterday said that if McCain didn't back the bailout, no Dems would either. He's going back and forth b/c he didn't see McCain's move coming.

Originally Posted by texas*princess

I agree.
He is just trying to suspend Friday's debate... because he knows it's a fight he cannot win

I love it when people have selective memory -- McCain's asked Obama to debate him for MONTHS. To have join town hall's, etc., but Obama ignored the request.

I daresay after watching Obama go down at the Saddleback forum we saw why he ignored the request -- if it's not a speech, he fumbles and makes mistakes.

He's merely a rehearsed record of the Democratic Party, which by all means you may consider fine. But the man (Obama) hardly has any substance to him whatsoever. Does he even make decisions for himself (ie: Biden)...??

[pbear19]

Originally Posted by KDAngel

Actually Reid yesterday said that if McCain didn't back the bailout, no Dems would either. He's going back and forth b/c he didn't see McCain's move coming.

Please provide a quote where Reid said that he wanted McCain to physically be in Washington to discuss the bailout in advance of a vote.

"Backing" something and showing up in the middle of negotiations with huge amounts of national press in tow are two completely different things. It's very naive to think either Obama or McCain needs to physically be in Washington to have an opinion and be influential in the lead up to the vote. The difference between doing what they could do outside of DC and doing it inside is the circus effect.

Note that I've said twice now I think both candidates should be there to vote. That doesn't mean the circus has to come to town beforehand.

[pbear19]

Ambinder:

The one way to make the bailout negotiations MORE political is to have a major party presidential candidate try to bigfoot his way into the debate under the guide of not being political.

The problem is that McCain's job now is not leader. It's candidate. And Democrats in Washington -- the majority party -- view him as a candidate, not as a senator.

Ponnuru

I think McCain's decision reduces the likelihood that Congress will pass anything and the likelihood that McCain will win the election—and say so here, where you can weigh in.

I don't think it's right that the Dems will be less likely to push something through because of McCain's interference (yes, I am intentionally using the word interference). But any political operative like McCain has to know that his going to Washington would put their backs up and likely make things harder. He cannot have it both ways - but I'm sure he'll try. If negotiations stall I'm sure he'll place the blame squarely on the Dems, and not take any responsibility for the fact that he could have been influential without being detrimental by staying on the sidelines, rather than diving in headfirst.



Drudge (about Letterman, not because it adds to my position but because it's funny):

David Letterman tells audience that McCain called him today to tell him he had to rush back to DC to deal with the economy.

Then in the middle of the taping Dave got word that McCain was, in fact just down the street being interviewed by Katie Couric. Dave even cut over to the live video of the interview, and said, "Hey Senator, can I give you a ride home?"

Earlier in the show, Dave kept saying, "You don't suspend your campaign. This doesn't smell right. This isn't the way a tested hero behaves." And he joked: "I think someone's putting something in his metamucil."

"He can't run the campaign because the economy is cratering? Fine, put in your second string quarterback, Sara Palin. Where is she?"

"What are you going to do if you're elected and things get tough? Suspend being president? We've got a guy like that now!"

[ThetaDancer]

Originally Posted by KDAngel

I love it when people have selective memory -- McCain's asked Obama to debate him for MONTHS. To have join town hall's, etc., but Obama ignored the request.

Oh likewise, KDAngel. Have you forgotten about when McCain said our economy is sound and harshly criticized those who disagreed???

And Obama did not ignore his requests to have joint town halls. He just said no.

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by ThetaDancer

Oh likewise, KDAngel. Have you forgotten about when McCain said our economy is sound and harshly criticized those who disagreed???

And Obama did not ignore his requests to have joint town halls. He just said no.

uh huh... the economy is fundamentally STRONG..

uhhhh it is? That's why he's now freaking out and trying to act like SuperMan to the aid of the $700 bazillion dollar band-aid?

To be honest, I know some people (*cough*Bush*cough*) are pissed off that it's taking the Dems some time to sort out everything and make some much-needed amendments to this Band-Aide, but really, if he thinks everything was just going to sort itself out, he's a bigger idiot than I thought. I honestly like that they are taking time to make sure to put in some safeguards and stuff in there.

I work f-ing hard for my $. If they are going to just throw it at a bunch of irresponsible companies with no stipulations whatsoever, then I would be pretty pissed off. I like that they are trying to put in items in there so that people will know what the money is going towards... and limiting the amount of millions that crappy CEOs can get pretty much as a reward for running their companies and the economy into the ground.

This has been going on for MONTHS if not over a year or so. Why is this suddenly such a huge emergency for him? Especially a week or so after saying the economy was strong.

[awkward1]

Originally Posted by texas*princess

I work f-ing hard for my $.

So do I but Obama wants to take it away from me.....I like Obama but he is after my money. But that is another thread, sorry.

If they are going to just throw it at a bunch of irresponsible companies with no stipulations whatsoever, then I would be pretty pissed off. I like that they are trying to put in items in there so that people will know what the money is going towards... and limiting the amount of millions that crappy CEOs can get pretty much as a reward for running their companies and the economy into the ground.

I agree completely!!

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by texas*princess

I agree.

He is just trying to suspend Friday's debate... because he knows it's a fight he cannot win

That's debatable (pun absolutely intended).