McCain suspends campaign

[Wino you know]

I'd like to see them both suspend the campaign for a week and concentrate on the work of Congress.

I'd like to think it's not a political move.....

And I guess I'm disappointed that so many people immediately jump to other conclusions.....

Disappointed, but definately not surprised.

[Elrod]

If this move was entirely about solving the financial crisis, he would have called Obama and asked that they join together to redirect their attention to this issue.

News reports say that Obama was invited to participate but does not intend to change his campaign schedule. There was his chance to be part of the solution and he's blowing it off.

He's wasting time prepping for a debate. There are only three things he can say to me that would change my vote and a debate would not be the proper forum for those statements.

My phone number is in the book.

[BFinnsUp]

I'd like to see them both suspend the campaign for a week and concentrate on the work of Congress.

I'd like to think it's not a political move.....

And I guess I'm disappointed that so many people immediately jump to other conclusions.....

As was stated before. If either of them were going to deal with the business of the state over their campaign they would have been back in Washington right after this broke not a week later.

[Martonian]

[ejr]

If this move was entirely about solving the financial crisis, he would have called Obama and asked that they join together to redirect their attention to this issue.

News reports say that Obama was invited to participate but does not intend to change his campaign schedule. There was his chance to be part of the solution and he's blowing it off.

He's wasting time prepping for a debate. There are only three things he can say to me that would change my vote and a debate would not be the proper forum for those statements.

My phone number is in the book.

News reports also suggested that the joint statement that was just released, was discussed this morning, but was not agreed to and then McCain went out on his own suspending his campaign.

[RinglingRingling]

If this move was entirely about solving the financial crisis, he would have called Obama and asked that they join together to redirect their attention to this issue.

News reports say that Obama was invited to participate but does not intend to change his campaign schedule. There was his chance to be part of the solution and he's blowing it off.

He's wasting time prepping for a debate. There are only three things he can say to me that would change my vote and a debate would not be the proper forum for those statements.

My phone number is in the book.

I don't see it that way, and we are going to have to agree to disagree. What can McCain do besides push the button to vote? It's not like he has a doctorate in Econ and 20 years of experience on both sides of the aisle (both working regulatory agencies and for private banks). his move was political in light of the last poll showing him down 9 points

[spartan1979]

McCain is probably just trying to get out of the first debate.

If he really cared about the country he would have left Palin in Alaska, as far from the Presidency as possible.

[SMLCHNG]

I'd like to see them both suspend the campaign for a week and concentrate on the work of Congress.
I'd like to think it's not a political move.....
And I guess I'm disappointed that so many people immediately jump to other conclusions.....

Let's see, should they actually lead or should they talk about what they would do if they had the opportunity to lead?

My feelings, too..

Besides, IMHO, most people have made up their minds who they're going to vote for, and a staged 'debate' isn't going to change their minds.

Get both senators back in Washington to do THEIR JOBS, and skip the speeches.

[The Lost Manatee]

Here is what the AP reported this morning about this. You will note which candidate started the initiated the talks and which got the press release out first. I think it is disappointing that both men continue to campaign and ignore their duties as Senators.


NEW YORK (Sept. 24) - Republican John McCain said Wednesday he wants to delay Friday's debate with Democratic rival Barack Obama and temporarily put aside their partisan campaign to resolve the nation's financial crisis.



McCain's announcement came after the two candidates held private talks about joining forces to address the Wall Street meltdown. The Obama campaign said the Democrat initiated the talks, but McCain beat Obama to the punch with the first public statement calling for the two to rise above politics in a time of crisis.


McCain said the Bush administration's plan seemed headed for defeat and a bipartisan solution was urgently needed.
McCain said he would put politics aside and return to Washington Thursday to focus on the nation's financial problems after addressing former President Clinton's Global Initiative session in New York. McCain said he wants President Bush to convene a leadership meeting in Washington that would include him and Obama.
"It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the administration's proposal," McCain said. "I do not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands, and we are running out of time."
McCain said he has spoken to Obama about his plans and asked the Democratic presidential nominee to join him.
Obama's campaign did not immediate say whether he supported a delay of the debate or would also stop campaigning.


The Obama campaign said in a statement that Obama had called McCain around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday to propose that they issue a joint statement in support of a package to help fix the economy as soon as possible. McCain called back six hours later and agreed to the idea of the statement, the Obama campaign said. McCain's statement was issued to the media a few minutes later.
"We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved," McCain said. "I am confident that before the markets open on Monday we can achieve consensus on legislation that will stabilize our financial markets, protect taxpayers and homeowners, and earn the confidence of the American people. All we must do to achieve this is temporarily set politics aside, and I am committed to doing so."
McCain said if Congress does not pass legislation to address the crisis, credit will dry up, people will no longer be able to buy homes, life savings will be at stake and businesses will not have enough money
"If we do not act, ever corner of our country will be impacted," McCain said. "We cannot allow this to happen."
McCain also canceled his planned appearance Wednesday on CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman" program.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

2008-09-13 17:07:27

[Martonian]

Besides, IMHO, most people have made up their minds who they're going to vote for, and a staged 'debate' isn't going to change their minds.

Most, yes. But the people that decide the election, the independents, can be swayed by the debates.

[Martonian]

McCain is probably just trying to get out of the first debate.

If he really cared about the country he would have left Palin in Alaska, as far from the Presidency as possible.

Or is trying to push Palin's debate back. That has been mentioned by the McCain campaign.

Everything I'm reading is that they are already coming close to a deal, so it's looking likely that the debate will happen on Friday.

[sonofabeach]

I like Obama's take that goes something along the lines of:
If you want to be president you should be able to handle more than one thing at a time.

[karat]

Personally I think anyone runing for president should give up their "job" - ie their senate seat or governorship. They aren't doing the work they were voted in to do while they are on the campaign trail.

Joe Biden's senate term is up this year but he's hedging his bets in case McCain beats Obama. He's running for re-election to the senate. I don't think he should be able to do that.

That's covering all the bases....

That is like playing Red & Black / Odd & Even in Roulett....unles the 0 /00 green comes up and then you are screwed

[LIPH]

Let's see, should they actually lead or should they talk about what they would do if they had the opportunity to lead?

The guy that said "The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should, but I’ve got Greenspan’s book" is not someone that I want leading on this issue.

But you have no problem with a "leader" who is asked a tough question and answers "that's above my pay grade" like Obama did? Or a "leader" who votes "present" 130 times so he doesn't have to make a decision like Obama. Yeah, that's the kind of leader the country needs now.

[BFinnsUp]

Let's see, should they actually lead or should they talk about what they would do if they had the opportunity to lead?

The guy that said "The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should, but I’ve got Greenspan’s book" is not someone that I want leading on this issue.

But you have no problem with a "leader" who is asked a tough question and answers "that's above my pay grade" like Obama did? Or a "leader" who votes "present" 130 times so he doesn't have to make a decision like Obama. Yeah, that's the kind of leader the country needs now.

Leadership and expert knowledge on a subject are two completely different things. A good leader knows when to call in the experts and when to go with their knowledge base. They also know when it is a gut feeling and not the bad burrito from lunch.

[chippewa]

I don't know if the problem can be fixed by showing up in Washington for a week. Maybe it could have been prevented if they both didn't take the last year or two off.

[Martonian]

Let's see, should they actually lead or should they talk about what they would do if they had the opportunity to lead?

The guy that said "The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should, but I’ve got Greenspan’s book" is not someone that I want leading on this issue.

But you have no problem with a "leader" who is asked a tough question and answers "that's above my pay grade" like Obama did? Or a "leader" who votes "present" 130 times so he doesn't have to make a decision like Obama. Yeah, that's the kind of leader the country needs now.

I don't want either of them there right now.

[flyboy55]

I don't actually think it would make much difference having McCain and Obama in Washington right now trying to 'help out'.

They both may be running for the office of President, but that office does currently have an occupant, George W Bush, who will have to continue 'leading' for a while, unfortunately for the nation. McCain and Obama are still only senators in their official capacity. I don't think they get any extra say in what gets done with regard to the financial crisis.

McCain and Obama have both been on the campaign trail for months now. Certainly the folks who are still working in Washington have a better grasp of the bailout legislation currently being hammered out than these two.

Canceling the debate is a political move. McCain can try to look like he cares more about the financial crisis. Also, it pushes the VP debate back and gives Palin more time to cram.

As has been pointed out elsewhere, presidential elections went forward during both the Civil War and WW II. Is the bail out of Wall Street such a pressing issue that it's more important to the future of the nation than were either the Civil War or WW II?

[LIPH]

McCain and Obama are still only senators in their official capacity. I don't think they get any extra say in what gets done with regard to the financial crisis.

On the other hand, if they aren't in Washington, they get no say. Which might be better for both of them because they can wash their hands of the whole mess.

[chippewa]

McCain was the scheduled guest on Letterman last night but canceled about an hour before taping, saying he was returning immediately to Washington. Dave wasn't too happy about that, but really tore into him after they patched in a live shot of the Senator getting makeup to prepare for an interview with Katie Couric in NY. His best line, after being handed a note to read:

"McCain has concluded his interview with Katie Couric. He is now on the ‘Rachael Ray Show' making veal picatta."