BREAKING NEWS: McCain SUSPENDS HIS CAMPAIGN (merged)

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.

 

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.

 

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

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.

 

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.

 

I didn't say any of those things.

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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'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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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...