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

[KDAngel]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the...l?hpid=topnews

So glad to see he's taken the initiative to do this. While the campaign is VERY important, it's important that the Senators remember what they've already been elected to do. And with this situation in crisis mode, it's absolutely the responsible thing to do. Of course I've supported McCain before this, but this is confirms why.

[nittanyalum]

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

You spin me right round baby right round...

[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.

[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.

[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).

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

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

You spin me right round baby right round...

Mullets rule
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMwdAc1Dzfg

[CrackerBarrel]

Reid is just doing political posturing as well. It's already been mentioned that Democrats are worried that they're going to vote for the administration's plan only to have McCain (and most of the rest of the Republicans on the hill) vote against it. That's why they're making such a big deal of trying to get McCain to commit to how he will vote.

And on the flip side, doesn't it make sense that if one of those two men is going to have to deal with the consequences of that bill for the next 4 years, they should at least get the shot to do their jobs and come try to shape it right now?

And if you want to see political posturing, watch the Democrats try to blame this on the "failed policies" of the administration instead of themselves for pushing through the "Community Reinvestment Act" which required banks to lend to people who were not good credit risks in the interest of everyone having the right to own a home. It's all those very mortgages which are defaulting, making mortgage backed securities worthless, and wrecking the balance sheets of investment banks. Democrats don't need to be telling anyone not to play politics on this one.

I'm not a big fan of many senators at all, but I can't stand Harry Reid. He talks out of both sides of his mouth more than anyone else in Washington.

[nittanyalum]

I like the way TonyB put it in the AKA forum (hope he doesn't mind me pulling his post over here! ):

Originally Posted by TonyB06

These are politicians so it's wise to treat all of this with some level of skepticism. Consider:

What has changed in a week since this crisis reached this level of national exposure? Both candidates campained all last week as negotions took place, neither, apparently, in a Senatorial leadership capacity on the issue.

What, specifically, is gained by postponing Friday's debate and suspending the campaigns? And if it's something more than a symbolic gesture, then why was it not proposed a week ago, when the crisis hit the melting point?

Given the lateness of the party conventions, and the compression of the presidential and vice presidential debates, I don't think a postponement is a good idea. Have the debates as scheduled, fly back and cast the vote you need to cast and keep going.

[TonyB06]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

I like the way TonyB put it in the AKA forum (hope he doesn't mind me pulling his post over here! ):

That's fine. I approved this message ...again.

[DaemonSeid]

if McCain can't juggle several challenges at once...then he doesn't need to be elected president...

He has hounded Obama for months for a debate and now it's 48 hrs away he cancels....mkay

This would have been the perfect opportunity for McCain to state his case about how to deal with the crisis at hand because even if things kick off on tomorrow or Friday it's no way in hell that it will be resolved in one day...I am sure this is NOT SOMETHING that Congress will RUSH to get thru without checking and rechecking...

Besides....

I am sure there is a way he can keep up with what's going on in session while he prepares for the debate....oh...wait...McCain is not up on technology.

Naw.....this is not a good thing...if another disaster is about to strike the US...like...say...A HURRICANE....is he gonna ask Mother Nature to postpone it while he handles another crisis??

Sigh......perfect opportunity to see how well the candidates can multitask in a real CRISIS and McCain just failed....

"Publicity Stunt"

[Senusret I]

lol...apparently selective memory works both ways.