Kudos Mr. Senator for deciding to help Americans only on the day that poll numbers have dropped you 9 points lower than Obama, your greatest deficit yet in the White House race. I suppose you would have put the country first when this crisis unmasked itself 10 days ago, had you known there was even a financial crisis going on. I suppose you would have put the country first when you rallied congress for deregulation of Lincoln Savings and Loan during the Keating explosion, had you known you would get caught.
McCain knows that most swing voters in America make their decision immediately after the first Presidential debate. He also knows that he is currently down in the polls significantly as a result of his inability to make sounds decisions regarding financial markets. He also knows that the financial markets are increasingly linked to foreign affairs, so this subject will come up in the debate on Friday.
In all fairness, McCain's move is bold and shows initiative. He appears sympathetic to the Nation by reigning in his own ambitions for the good of the country. But let's be honest here. McCain will go to Washington to rally congress to immediately pass this bill giving Bush and Paulson a blank check, unquestionable power, and no oversight. Bush wins, McCain appears bold, and Average Joe owes Congress $700 billion from his own pocketbook. Remember the Wizard of Oz? Bring him out from behind the curtain and suddenly he's not so benevolent.
Don't be so hard on McCain...he's actually taking an important initiative by postponing the debates. It's extremely silly for both senators to miss the Friday vote on the 700 billion dollar rescue package because of the debate. Their first priority is to the country by doing their jobs as senators.
ReplyDeleteSaying that he's only doing this because his poll numbers are down is just being cynical. If anything, McCain does well after a head-on debate as was illustrated at Saddleback. It was McCain who challenged Obama to a series of Town Hall style debates *weekly*. McCain is definitely NOT trying to avoid debates.
And please note that the No. 1 recipient of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac money was Chris Dodd from CT. The No.2 recipient was Barack Obama.
Actually, #2 is John Kerry. Since 2006, the federally sponsored mortgage giant Freddie Mac has paid at least $345,000 to the lobbying and consulting firm of John McCain's campaign manager, Rick Davis. McCain lied about this up until today when Newsweek confirmed it. See how the "truth" gets diluted so quickly nowadays? =)
ReplyDeleteBut back to the point. Nothing has changed in the past 48 hours except the poll numbers. Well, that and McCain's sudden expertise on the economy (he is a self described "economic idiot"). If McCain can't cast a vote and have a debate within the same 18 hour time spam, then do we really want him as President?
haha obama politely told him to multitask
ReplyDelete"It's the longest Hail Mary pass in the history of either football or Marys." - Barney Frank
ReplyDeleteI really don't care what motivated McCain to return to Washington. The fact that both candiates will actually come to the table and disucss the most critical issue of the day rather than waiting for thier collegues to make decisions that will dramatically impact their administration is good. Neither of them have displayed any particular economic insight, but as potential leaders of the free world they ought to at least be part of the debate, rather then spending more time mud slinging.
ReplyDeleteYo Mama
Yes I understand poll numbers have changed but I've pointed out that continuing the campaign and debating Obama are favorable things for McCain to do, thus your assumption that poll numbers convinced McCain to stop the campaign does not make sense. Furthermore, poll numbers are not the only thing that has changed- the economic issues he's trying to address are extremely dynamic and volatile, changing daily. It is not just a matter of going in and voting...it is a matter of talking to other members of congress, debating what to do, and trying to build a consensus. That's what a President does.
ReplyDeleteIt is also not just a multitasking issue. The rest of his campaign could go on, but it seems inappropriate to McCain to have a partisan debate when the country and both parties need to be coming together in the Senate and House to push through a critical bill. It would inhibit progress to continue with the campaign.
Also, come on can Democrats please stop painting Republicans as idiots. I don't think Clinton or Obama are idiots...I don't agree with their policies. McCain is far from an idiot- economic or otherwise.
As to the money issue, which sorry I brought up offhandly :). I think it's more legitimate for Davis to get money for doing consulting work than for Obama to receive money as contributions when he has had influence over regulations and employment at those two companies.
It looks like a political move to me because, after calling attention to his campaign suspension by holding a press conference, he went on to a campaign event (speaking at the CGI) and has not pulled any ads as he said he would (they are still running in NC). Ironically, as he goes to vote in favor of the biggest bailout (read: robbery) in U.S. history, the ads he is still airing in NC accuse his opponents of advocating bigger government.
ReplyDeleteAlso: Recall that just 10 days ago McCain said that the fundamentals of the economy were strong. All that has changed since then is McCain's message and tactics.
I'm with Daniel Larison on this one: In the end, knowing when you can contribute something and knowing when to avoid complicating an already difficult situation by intruding on ongoing negotiations is what separates grandstanding from leadership.
Yeah...this was a completely political stunt. Not only did he give a political speech today at CGI after announcing the "suspension", he is also taping interviews for all three major news networks tonight. Since a deal hasn't yet been reached because Republicans are apparently balking, surely McCain, as the *leader* of his party, should be busting heads to get a deal...right? That is, of course, if he really believes he shouldn't be campaigning... (He also brought his *campaign* economic advisor to the White House today. Obama brought a legislative assistant.
ReplyDeleteBesides, I think all the people who think it's brave or bold or noble or apolitical for McCain to be doing this don't seem to be considering that he IS running for president. He can't escape the press!! Even if he barges into the bank committee room and yells at his fellow senators to "cut the bull shit!", he'll still have 80 cameras on him, and he knows it. It would be a circus.
Chase, you forgot another important reason for McCain's most recent Hail Mary pass, I think...Palin's interview. Did you see it? It was a train wreck!!! She was asked about Russia, and she gave a perfect Tina Fey "I can see Russia from my house" answer if ever I've seen one.
This is a political stunt. No more, no less.