BREAKING NEWS: McCain SUSPENDS HIS CAMPAIGN (merged)

[Minstrel]

Apparently, the Friday debate is going to go ahead as planned. Tom Brokaw opined that he thinks McCain will show up for it, but he did say that at this point, nothing in this election would surprise him.

 

[Real]

I didn't miss the point. I'm saying that your contention that all the media is rooting for Obama and inherently opposed to the GOP is an assertion without basis and is simply part of the rhetoric around Palin's refusal to talk to the media. It's the standard thing...whenever you avoid a certain group, you paint them as the enemy.

I thought it was pretty obvious. My bad.

 

[Minstrel]

I thought it was pretty obvious. My bad.

Yes, and I thought it was pretty obvious that the McCain campaign is preventing from exposing Palin's lack of knowledge. Funny how that works.

 

[Real]

I've seen thousands of staunch conservatives come on Meet the Press and This Week and Charlie Rose over many years. They never seemed overly worried about getting "hammered." Are you saying she's much more vulnerable than all those people?

Tim Russert used to question everyone hard. George Stephanopoulos and Charlie Rose are very good journalists IMO.

My goodness, if she needs such protection from America's own media, what chance does she stand against Vladimir Putin or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? Will we have to protect her from them as well?

I thought she was supposed to be the barracuda moose killing pit bull. She can't hack it against some latte-sipping Prius-driving liberal media elites like Charlie Rose?

Here's a photo of Charlie Rose. I'm no barracuda, but he doesn't look that terrifying to me:

My point is not that she can't hack it, but she's going to get criticized regardless of whether she goes on or not, so why not just play it safe, give a few interviews, but don't go on every show.

She gave the interview with Gibson before, she gave one to Couric tonight. She's only been on the national political scene for a little over a month, so I think comparing her to Biden, who's been on the scene for over thirty years, is kind of pointless. Give it time.

 

[Denny Crane]

Yes, and I thought it was pretty obvious that the McCain campaign is preventing from exposing Palin's lack of knowledge. Funny how that works.

Or doing a hack editing job on what she says, taking it out of context, failing to report the truth about it, and blowing it way out of proportion.

 

[Real]

Yes, and I thought it was pretty obvious that the McCain campaign is preventing from exposing Palin's lack of knowledge. Funny how that works.

I love how you talk like Palin's the most inexperienced candidate in this race. That she's never had to run a budget or run a state before. That she's never had executive experience.

One day she goes on Gibson and gets criticized for not knowing enough. Another day, she's not going on anywhere.

 

[Minstrel]

I love how you talk like Palin's the most inexperienced candidate in this race. That she's never had to run a budget or run a state before. That she's never had executive experience.

I didn't say any of those things.

One day she goes on Gibson and gets criticized for not knowing enough. Another day, she's not going on anywhere.

Yes. That is weird...she looks like she doesn't know what she's talking about and suddenly she's not doing interviews.

 

[Denny Crane]

Did you see the less edited version?

She was fine.

 

[PapaG]

McCain senior adviser Mark Salter emails: "Yesterday, Harry Reid said that consensus couldn't be achieved without John McCain's leadership. John stepped up and is providing that leadership. Now Senator Reid seems to have changed his mind for reasons we'll let him explain. But what he should understand is that this isn't about Harry Reid or John McCain or Barack Obama. It's about the American people and, in the words of Warren Buffet, the financial Pearl Harbor they're facing. John's committed to doing his part to help avert that calamity. We hope Senator Reid is too."

I liked Obama's response. "If they need me, they'll call me." LOL...way to show you aren't even needed by your own party's leadership.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I don't know for sure, but Obama might be a bit more comfortable if Biden were kept under wraps a little more.

So far, he's said that Hillary might have been a better VP than himself, he said that Obama's recent commercial was "terrible", he contradicted Obama on the AIG bailout, and then he got in this beauty in an interview with Katie Couric:



Of course, Hoover, not FDR, was president when the market crashed in 1929 and television hadn't been invented yet.

Oops.

I think it's true that Biden isn't helping Obama's campaign. Biden as a pick, was not the best pick for the campaign and now his style of addressing issues has caused him to put his foot in his mouth more than a couple of times.

This election should be a runaway given Bush's last 8 years. But it is not a runaway and I give a lot of credit to the way the republicans have ran their campaign. To me, it is masterful the way they generated excitement with the Palin pick and now this move of putting off the debates just as Obama started to pick up steam again.

I keep thinking the ticket will eventually be exposed . . . but I'm starting maybe not. I think Palin could have a big effect on the election (and probably the most positive effect) if they limited her to the one debate, a few interivews (including fox) and then just kept her on teh campaign trail as a cheerleader for McCain.

Heck if it works, maybe someone who can run such an effective campaign might be able to run the country. It baffles me, but I have to give respect out where it is due and the McCain campaign is effective.

 

[Minstrel]

now this move of putting off the debates just as Obama started to pick up steam again.

It hasn't been put off, apparently. Which puts McCain in a potentially interesting spot, if the bill isn't passed by Friday...does he abandon his own claim to put politics on the back-burner, or abandon his strongest debate issue and essentially give Obama a free, hour-long segment of national airtime to talk unopposed?

 

[PapaG]

I think it's true that Biden isn't helping Obama's campaign. Biden as a pick, was not the best pick for the campaign and now his style of addressing issues has caused him to put his foot in his mouth more than a couple of times.

This election should be a runaway given Bush's last 8 years. But it is not a runaway and I give a lot of credit to the way the republicans have ran their campaign. To me, it is masterful the way they generated excitement with the Palin pick and now this move of putting off the debates just as Obama started to pick up steam again.

I keep thinking the ticket will eventually be exposed . . . but I'm starting maybe not. I think Palin could have a big effect on the election (and probably the most positive effect) if they limited her to the one debate, a few interivews (including fox) and then just kept her on teh campaign trail as a cheerleader for McCain.

Heck if it works, maybe someone who can run such an effective campaign might be able to run the country. It baffles me, but I have to give respect out where it is due and the McCain campaign is effective.

I'm not sure people understand just how serious these lenders drying up really is. It's not so much a big deal for people already in a mortgage, but the capital for new loans isn't there even for people who qualify. It's kind of hard to expand an economy when there is are limited capital lenders, no? Bush's speech tonight, Paulson's words, Jack Welch's words, Warren Buffet's words...alarm bells are sounding, and even a "rescue" or a "bail-out" or whatever we want to call it may not be enough to stave off a severe recession or even, gasp, a depression.

 

[PapaG]

It hasn't been put off, apparently. Which puts McCain in a potentially interesting spot, if the bill isn't passed by Friday...does he abandon his own claim to put politics on the back-burner, or abandon his strongest debate issue and essentially give Obama a free, hour-long segment of national airtime to talk unopposed?

If a bill isn't passed by Friday night, the last thing on anyone's mind come about 12pm Monday will be a debate about FOREIGN POLICY. I just wonder how long it will take Obama to figure out that if McCain goes to DC, helps hammer out a compromise, and then shows up for the debate, the he (Obama) will be pretty much rendered useless. McCain is going to do his job; Obama wants to discuss FOREIGN POLICY while lending banks are swirling down the toilet. It's a baffling decision by Obama to criticize McCain doing his job, especially after Harry Reid basically asked him to come help yesterday.

I advise watching the Presidential address tonight.

 

[Tortimer]

It hasn't been put off, apparently. Which puts McCain in a potentially interesting spot, if the bill isn't passed by Friday...does he abandon his own claim to put politics on the back-burner, or abandon his strongest debate issue and essentially give Obama a free, hour-long segment of national airtime to talk unopposed?

I really think if Obama doesn't go back and help figure out what to do with the financial crisis he is going to lose a lot of momentum he has right now. I even think this could be the big break McCain needed to win. I have thought all along Obama will win but if he goes to the debate by himself while McCain is working on a final package to help with the crisis Obama will lose. I know all you Obama fans will see it different but the majority of Americans won't see it that way.

 

[Minstrel]

I just wonder how long it will take Obama to figure out that if McCain goes to DC, helps hammer out a compromise, and then shows up for the debate, the he (Obama) will be pretty much rendered useless.

There's nothing to "figure out" about it. McCain is taking a big risk here, and Obama can't really affect it, he can just see if it helps or damages McCain. There's definitely a possibility that it works like gang-busters for McCain. McCain could also end up accomplishing little, looking like a grandstander and accelerating his slide down the polls.

If he looks like he was instrumental in getting a bill done and the public believes he was important, then it could potentially win him the election.

Obama made the correct response. "I'm available to help, physical location is really just about image. I can do more than one thing at once and Presidents have to be able to handle multiple things at once." Now he has to wait and see how it plays out for McCain.

 

[PapaG]

There's nothing to "figure out" about it. McCain is taking a big risk here, and Obama can't really affect it, he can just see if it helps or damages McCain. There's definitely a possibility that it works like gang-busters for McCain. McCain could also end up accomplishing little, looking like a grandstander and accelerating his slide down the polls.

If he looks like he was instrumental in getting a bill done and the public believes he was important, then it could potentially win him the election.

Obama made the correct response. "I'm available to help, physical location is really just about image. I can do more than one thing at once and Presidents have to be able to handle multiple things at once." Now he has to wait and see how it plays out for McCain.

McCain is taking a "big risk" in terms of being elected, but in terms of trying to save off economic times that you or I have not seen in our lifetime, trying to hammer out a compromise ASAP isn't really a "risk".

This is what leaders do, and one thing that can't be said about McCain is that he does not reach across the aisle to get things done.

 

[Denny Crane]

I'm not sure how bad the fiscal crisis really is. The price of gasoline seems to be really killing the economy.

The $700B price tag on top of the $300B already spent is potentially a bigger hurt on us for many years to come (just paying it off) than just letting the stupid companies die.

 

[Denny Crane]

There's nothing to "figure out" about it. McCain is taking a big risk here, and Obama can't really affect it, he can just see if it helps or damages McCain. There's definitely a possibility that it works like gang-busters for McCain. McCain could also end up accomplishing little, looking like a grandstander and accelerating his slide down the polls.

If he looks like he was instrumental in getting a bill done and the public believes he was important, then it could potentially win him the election.

Obama made the correct response. "I'm available to help, physical location is really just about image. I can do more than one thing at once and Presidents have to be able to handle multiple things at once." Now he has to wait and see how it plays out for McCain.

Obama is the official leader of his party. If he can't lead, he's not a very good choice for president. He is running away from his duty because he'd be exposed as not knowing much at all about the issue. Stuff like that happens when you study talking points instead of doing the job of a senator.

 

[Minstrel]

McCain is taking a "big risk" in terms of being elected, but in terms of trying to save off economic times that you or I have not seen in our lifetime, trying to hammer out a compromise ASAP isn't really a "risk".

If you believe he's sincere. Do you also believe Obama is sincere in everything he says, or is that different? Your bias leads you to believe McCain is sincere. My bias leads me to believe he's engaging in a political gimmick for the sake of winning an election that polls suggest he's currently in danger of losing.

What the truth is is impossible to know.

 

[PapaG]

I'm not sure how bad the fiscal crisis really is. The price of gasoline seems to be really killing the economy.

The $700B price tag on top of the $300B already spent is potentially a bigger hurt on us for many years to come (just paying it off) than just letting the stupid companies die.

Go try to get a mortgage tomorrow. Actually, call a local bank and ask them about their capital lenders. This isn't about yesterday, it is about right now and expanding the economy.

Also, the "stupid companies" back the loans of many small businesses. We're on the verge...

 

[Stepping Razor]

McCain is taking a "big risk" in terms of being elected, but in terms of trying to save off economic times that you or I have not seen in our lifetime, trying to hammer out a compromise ASAP isn't really a "risk".

This is what leaders do, and one thing that can't be said about McCain is that he does not reach across the aisle to get things done.

Except that this is a completely blatant publicity stunt. Obama got in touch with McCain at 8:00 this morning, asking that the two of them work out a joint unity policy. He didn't publicize it, hoping to work out a compromise policy, for the good of the country, without having everything politicized. McCain instead decided to pull this stunt instead to try to rescue his flailing campaign.

Pretty sad, I would say.

 

[Minstrel]

Obama is the official leader of his party. If he can't lead, he's not a very good choice for president.

Leading and grandstanding are two different things. I don't think McCain is leading. I think he's making a strategic, image-conscious gamble.

 

[PapaG]

If you believe he's sincere. Do you also believe Obama is sincere in everything he says, or is that different? Your bias leads you to believe McCain is sincere. My bias leads me to believe he's engaging in a political gimmick for the sake of winning an election that polls suggest he's currently in danger of losing.

What the truth is is impossible to know.

I'll trust Warren Buffet's words on the severity of this situation. He calls it "an economic Pearl Harbor". Buffet is an Obama backer, BTW.

 

[Denny Crane]

Go try to get a mortgage tomorrow. Actually, call a local bank and ask them about their capital lenders. This isn't about yesterday, it is about right now and expanding the economy.

Also, the "stupid companies" back the loans of many small businesses. We're on the verge...

Funny, I just got a preapproved home refinance loan thing in the mail. From CountryWide of all companies.

 

[PapaG]

Except that this is a completely blatant publicity stunt. Obama got in touch with McCain at 8:00 this morning, asking that the two of them work out a joint unity policy. He didn't publicize it, hoping to work out a compromise policy, for the good of the country, without having everything politicized. McCain instead decided to pull this stunt instead to try to rescue his flailing campaign.

Pretty sad, I would say.

Obama did not talk to McCain this morning. He "called" McCain; McCain was unavailable. More exaggerating of the truth from Obama.

 

[PapaG]

Funny, I just got a preapproved home refinance loan thing in the mail. From CountryWide of all companies.

Oh brother...

 

[Minstrel]

I'll trust Warren Buffet's words on the severity of this situation. He calls it "an economic Pearl Harbor". Buffet is an Obama backer, BTW.

Nice non sequitor. I wasn't talking about whether there really is an economic crisis or not. I was talking about whether McCain was really doing this out of a sincere desire to help the nation or as a strategic move to boost his candidacy.

 

[Dumpy]

She gave interviews to Gibson and Couric.

If most of the media is rooting for Obama either implicitly or explicitly, wouldn't you try to limit your exposure to them as much as possible?

what a horrible argument. "The press is against me, so I will refuse to give the American a people a chance to hear me speak on the issues. That will teach them!"

 

[Dumpy]

Re: McCain wants to postpone Friday's debate

It really pisses me off when a senator runs for president and doesn't resign from his senate seat so someone can be appointed to actually do the job.

what choice do they have? You run for president, lose, and you lose your job as a result? That's crazy. I prefer the English system, where you vote for a party, and then the party installs its leader as PM.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I'm not sure people understand just how serious these lenders drying up really is. It's not so much a big deal for people already in a mortgage, but the capital for new loans isn't there even for people who qualify. It's kind of hard to expand an economy when there is are limited capital lenders, no? Bush's speech tonight, Paulson's words, Jack Welch's words, Warren Buffet's words...alarm bells are sounding, and even a "rescue" or a "bail-out" or whatever we want to call it may not be enough to stave off a severe recession or even, gasp, a depression.

Personally, I understand how big this is. This isn't just about mortgages . . . this is about the financial sector, wall street and the global economy. The very thing that terrorist would love (and die for) to see collapse.

I just don't see why it is so vital for McCain (who is clueless and think currently the fundementals of the economy are strong) to skip a presidential debate to "work" on the situation. But I'm sure it will explained how much value he will bring to the process . . .