The Trail: A Daily Diary of Campaign 2008

I think
McCain want to make noise so ppl can put atention no him.
there are alot of ppl on the congress to work on....

politics tricks!!

or does bush wants to stay like fidel?

Come on people.... do you really think that McCain pulled this just bc he is scared of debating with Obama? Seriously people. This is a guy who has faced physical tourture and not only survived it but went right back into service knowing he could end up right back in that position... and you think he is actually scared of voicing oppinions with another person. Really???? please ...if you don't like McCain thats one thing, and you are entitled to your opinion. But don't take cheap shots at him bc you don't know enough politicly to say anything truely damning against him.

What a Drama King.

We are watching the HOUSE OF CARDS fall apart. The Neo-con con is over. 40 some days to go!

We are watching the HOUSE OF CARDS fall apart. The Neo-con con is over. 40 some days to go!

What is Obama doing for you while he is campaigning? He is not even present to give his great financial wisdom that he and the Democrats say he has. If he is such a great leader why is he not focusing on the greatest issue at hand since the great depression? Why is he not putting his wonderful debating skills to use bringing the democrats and republicans together to figure out a way to better the American public, the middle class, and the working people? So Obama is telling all of use that the issue of the economy; which the media has taken hold of and has pushed onto people as the next great depression in which the American public has been feeling the pinch and whom are scared and frightened about, is the fears of Americans are not important. That he has been working on this debate so much that he needs to put it on because he didn’t waste his time on learning foreign policy to worry about what the American public is worried about. He shows that he is only worried about himself and being the president. Just as the media is only worried about their programming schedule; "Every network in America has that time laid out," Fox News anchor Shepard Smith said on the air Wednesday. "There are thousands of people en route to Oxford, Miss., at this point. For seven months they've been working on this." Who really cares about what you want…

Obama says that; “It's my belief that this is exactly the time when the American people need to hear from the person who, in approximately 40 days, will be responsible for dealing with this mess”. The problem is Mr. Obama the debate is not about the economy…it’s about foreign policy! In my opinion that is the Presidential stage and McCain is coming out ahead because he is putting the American public first and is trying to force a truce between republicans and democrats. Weather you like his tactics or not is put pressure on the Democrats to work more with the republicans to move this issue along. The Democrats do not want to look as if they are stalling this issue. Plus, they don’t want this debate to be put on hold and have it on their heads.

"He then said I would actually also like to look at us potentially suspending campaigns and pushing debates off. What I suggested to him was, well, why don't we get the joint statement out first and our staffs will discuss this," Obama said. "I think the only -- the only possible miscommunication might have been how quickly there was an announcement [by McCain] and somebody was on television. I think probably my assumption was that the joint statement would go out initially," said Obama.

First things first, Mr. Obama…everyone knows what happens when you assume something. Secondly, to be completely honest; who care who came up with the idea? It’s not who thought it up, it’s about who took the initiative to go out on a limb and take the bulls by the horn to try and solve the problem. Barry Obama is acting like a grade school kid who needs attention and praise. Grow up and do the job you think you deserve!

ALERT - THEY HOPE WE'RE TOO DISTRACTED TO NOTICE!!

If the Senate fails to reauthorize E-Verify THIS WEEK before the session ends, the entire program will expire in November!

E-Verify has been touted by the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security as "...one of the nations best and most effective tools for ensuring a legal workforce." And according to the General Accountability Office, "E-Verify is 99.5% effect."

Senator Menendez (D-NJ) has placed a hold on the E-Verify bill and is trying to hijack it by insisting on an increase of over half a million visas for foreign workers next year.

"The E-Verify Program MUST be authorized before it expires in November if U.S. Citizens are to believe our Congress is serious at all about restoring the rule of law," per Senator Sessions.

E-Verify is one of the governments most successful programs targeting workplace enforcement of our immigration laws and is now in danger of being eliminated.

The federal government has breeched its Constitutionally required duty under Article IV, Section IV to protect citizens and states from foreign invasion, instead choosing to play politics with the law and mislabeling the invasion (of an estimated 12-20 million armed and unarmed Mexican citizens and another 4-8 million non-Mexicans) as merely unfortunate--ignoring the $300+ billion yearly impact on local and state governments and landslide of negative impacts on Americans.

The leaders of this Democratic Congress are hoping U.S. Citizens won't be paying much attention as they try to betray us yet again regarding enforcement of our immigration laws and using programs that work against illegal workers. They are hoping We are too busy with the Presidential election and the meltdown of our economy, which illegal immigration has contributed greatly to, as our lawmakers still continue to pander to corporate america.

Dash Nancy Pelosi and Senator Harry Reids hopes that Senator Robert Menendezs' attempts to block E-Verify will work! Menendez is putting his personal views ahead of our national interests.

CONTACT YOUR SENATORS NOW - TELL THEM TO AUTHORIZE E-VERIFY!

McCain the master of the Keating 5

McCain master of the Keating 5

People are facing falling housing price every minute of every hour of every day. This is a national crisis. Nobody interests in Mr. Obama!

Bush won the war in Iraq.
But it will be McCain who will win the war at home.

Vote Sen McCain/Gov. Palin

How the Democrats created this financial crisis

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2008/09/how-the-democra.html

How the Democrats created this financial crisis

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2008/09/how-the-democra.html

And somewhere in rural Virginia, a fat lady is singing.

Good one, McCain. But your Hail Mary pass was knocked out of bounds by the American people.

Take it like a man. Do the debate, and let your running mate deal with the press like every candidate before in American history.

You can run but you can't hide from America. We're kind of like Santa. We see you when you're sleeping, we know when you're awake.

So be a good boy and maybe by Christmas you won't be completely ruined by your own shenanigans. And btw, if you don't want all this, call it off. It'll save you a lot of trouble.

I think its very funny after reading the post that democrats feel very threatened by McCain since he is "losing" so badly. That is because he is not. Both are tied in a statistical dead heat as of 09/24/08. Oh, the poll that shows Obama up by 9, that was thrown out for bias polling in demographics and race issues. McCain pointed this mess out in 2006 and co-sponsored s.190 that would have averted this mess. McCain will get the deal signed by Monday with no thanks to Barry the Kid!

Another McCain Political Stunt (TM)

...at least it wasn't Another McCain Lie!

http://www.mccainpedia.org/index.php/Count_the_Lies

Debating is downright unpatriotic right now and anyone who disagrees is a terrorist who hates freedom and wants to see our economy in shambles. Sean Hannity said so, darnit, I think. Is anyone else a little sick of EVEN MORE diversionary tactics by the Republican Party? Is 8 years of this b.s. not quite enough? McCain, face the music, your oratorical beating is coming no matter how long the delay. And it isn't because Obama is a gifted speaker or for any other reason than the fact that you can no longer run from your own mistakes or those of your party. These debates actually do matter; more American citizens than ever before realize the monumental importance of this election. Be a man already.

If Obama pulled a stunt like this, McCain would be HOWLING!
This is a gimmick. Plus, McCain has released really nasty tv commercials in Michigan, about AAyres and Wright.
McCain is linking Obama to Kilpatrick???
Obama refused to SPEAK to Kilpatrick!
McCain and his campaign thinks everyone is stupid!
Bush told him Americans are stupid, and they have been, UP UNTIL NOW!
8 YEARS OF BUSH IS ENOUGH!
CAN YOU IMAGINE A MCCAIN ADMINISTRATION!!!
OBAMA IS SURE AND STEADY. wE NEED A STEADY HAND TO LEAD US THROUGH THESE DISASTERS!

From Australia, I saw on TV Mr McCain stating something like, "This is what happens when Wall Street is used like a
a Casino...? i.e., gamble it away? And now wants to bail out, hyperthetically, people he considers just mere compulsive
gamblers?

Mr Obama stated that he would want to see
that tax payers who are faced with bank closures on their homes and businesses
protected in any bail out.

And your head bookkeeper in Congress, reckons any bailout as suggested could make
the financial crisis worse?

I don't know what either candidates input
will do to avert a complex situation, other
than avoid debating foreign affairs?

Politics Mr McCain is what you are in.
And if you can't handle a debate on foreign
relations, etc., and become informed re
the financial situation at the same time
God Help You. It's going to get worse if and I say if you become President. Send in Guv.Palin to sit in for you while you debate with Sen.Obama.

If she takes her handy calculator with her
she might solve the problem in no time? LOL

lbbob46,

Obviously you really don't understand what is the root cause of this crisis. It cannot be explained in a 100 words or less sound bite so there isn't much point to try to explain it here. I suggest you do a bit of research, there are plenty of general circulation papers on line. Go read the Wall Street Journal for another source.

Ok, so maybe it can be summed up in one word, greed.

Mr Franks and committee should all be forced to resign and give up their pensions...they are the culprits that caused this crisis...they traded houses for votes and have ruined our financial system.

McBush needs his nap first, then he needs more tuition to know the difference between SEC and FEC, then he needs to remind himself which of his numerous flip-flops he is now on, and then he needs more medications. Then he may be ready to debate and talk about the economy. BUT at this rate, McSlime and Pain will NEVER debate before Nov. 4th. After all, the Repub camapign said the vote is not about issues but about personality. Like who has "racial misgivings," who is more of a celebrity, who can see Russia and skin a moose and kill wolves from helipcopters better. And the media is letting him get away with this crap. Just like his wife let him get away with calling her a "CU*T" in front of strange men. We are all going bankrupt because this bottom-of-the-class 20+ years Senator voted to regulate every time

Obama is still waiting for axelrod to type something into the teleprompter before he knows which way to go on this one.

OH I'M SORRY. WHAT WAS I THINKING THAT OBAMA SHOULD ACTUALLY GO TO WORK. DOESN'T MATTER, HE WILL JUST SHOW UP AND VOTE PRESENT.
OBAMA NOT AN EXPERT ON ANYTHING BUT RUNNING SMEAR CAMPAIGNS.
BUT HEY MCCAIN ACTUALLY RECOGNIZES THAT OUR FINANCIAL SECURITY IS HEADED TO THE TOILET AND WE NEED TO CLEAN IT UP AND SAVE IT BEFORE IT IN DOWN THE TUBES AND SOMEHOW LIBERALS HAVE CHALKED IT UP AS SOME KIND OF POLITICAL PLOT. GET OFF THE CRACK PIPE!

Taken in isolation, McCain's decisions to 'suspend' his campaign and postpone the debate might be seen as selfless gestures intended to reassure the citizenry that he's putting this present economic crisis, and our country -- first.

However, I remember George W. Bush negotiating down the number of debates in both 2000 and 2004. I remember McCain's thinly disguised request to change the format of all debates to 'town hall style' settings. I remember George W. Bush holding a fraction of the press conferences any other modern president has held while in office. And now we are learning that Governor Palin is basically on press lockdown.

The old saying, 'what you don't know can't hurt you' is totally false. Despite a constant effort on the part of the political machinations of the G.O.P., what we haven't known has hurt us very much over the last 7.5 years.

Senator McCain, go to Oxford.

TALK IS CHEAP. IT'S OBVIOUS THE CLOWN IS CLUELESS! FIRST HE SAYS NO TO MCCAIN NOW HE SAYS "OH SURE, MR PRESIDENT, I'LL COME MEET WITH YOU"
SO SOMEHOW THE VERRY PERSON HE HAS BEEN HATING ON THE LAST 2 YEARS CONVINCED HIM TO CHANGE HIS MIND TO COME TO WASHINGTON? ARE YOU SERIOUS! HE KNOWS HE WAS WRONG FOR DECLINING TO GO TO WASHINGTON AND DO HIS JOB!
FOR THE MORONS WHO CAN'T SEEM TO READ BETWEEN THE LINES, HE IS NOWAY CLOSE TO BEING READY TO LEAD.

MCCAIN/PALIN 08 ALL THE WAY

It's ironic that Republicans accused Obama of coming across as self-important, yet here's McCain saying that he (who by his own admission is weak on economics) will step into this "fray" over the bailout bill and get the two sides to come together to save the day. How's that for chutzpah?

Obama is not the clown here...YOU ARE!

McCain hasn't been in the senate since April. If he can't multi-task, then he shouldn't be President.

Obama '08!

And McChicken is a coward! He knows he will be beaten in the debate.

WHY MCCAIN SHOULD NOT BECOME PRESIDENT

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hzKch7oo69rIHFkesZT2Akm6h3iAD93DBF601

Giants got 'access insurance' to McCain aide
By PETE YOST – 6 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pay a lobbying firm $15,000 a month for several years to do no lobbying. Pay a former campaign aide to John McCain $30,000 a month for five years following the senator's failed bid in 2000 for the presidency.

At any other time, it would be business as usual in Washington.

Not today. The money came from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two failed housing giants that are a huge part of the financial crisis imperiling the economy.

And the recipient of most of the funds is McCain's current campaign manager, Rick Davis.

"The payments are for 'access insurance' with the Republican Party and with someone very close to McCain," James Thurber, director of American University's Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, said Wednesday.

Thurber, who teaches lobbying and spent seven years looking into the conduct of political campaigns, says the money to Davis is especially instructive with regard to McCain, who bills himself as the candidate who will change the way Washington works.

Good-government groups say Washington's money trail goes a long way in explaining why the country finds itself having to hang its future on a financial bailout that may or may not work.

Over the years, the hated "r" word — regulation — came up frequently in Congress with regard to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but not often enough, financial experts say in retrospect.

McCain was among those who said more regulation was needed, a point his campaign emphasized in lambasting The New York Times for writing about the payments to Davis and his lobbying firm.

In the end, the idea of reining in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac always got buried under a cascade of dollars that went to both Democrats and Republicans, concludes a report by Common Cause.

Before this month's inconvenient crackup, Fannie Mae gave more than 60 percent of its $916,000 in campaign donations this election cycle to Democrats in Congress, since the party broke Republicans' long grip on Capitol Hill. Likewise, Freddie Mac gave 54 percent of its $478,000 in donations to Democrats, according to figures from the Center for Responsive Politics, a private group that tracks money in politics. Overall, the financial sector has contributed $1.6 billion to federal candidates and their parties since 1997, the center says.

The money game in Washington is played in a myriad of ways and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac played it to the hilt. Campaign contributions, fundraisers and hiring the well-connected are all part of it.

In Davis's case, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac set him up to run an entity they created and paid for called the Homeownership Alliance. It promoted Fannie's and Freddie's achievements and discouraged any changes to the wide-open road on which Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac operated.

Everyone — Barack Obama's campaign included — profited, at least until now.

On Wednesday, McCain's campaign pushed back.

"Mr. Davis has never — never — been a lobbyist for either Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac," the McCain campaign said in criticizing the news media's focus on the payments to Davis and his lobbying firm.

Robert McCarson, who was director of corporate relations at Fannie Mae from 1999 to 2004, said it is "ironic that the campaign that bills itself as the campaign of reform would give such a legalistic answer.

"The reality is that Rick Davis didn't have to register as a lobbyist to do his most powerful lobbying, which was to be the person that John McCain staked his future in as his campaign manager," said McCarson, a Democrat who was an aide in 1990-91 to then-Rep. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

WHAT A SCUM BAG OBAMA IS! WE HAVE A HUGE ENORMIOUS PROBLEM AND HE WANTS TO JUST SIMPLY KEEP ON SCHEDULE. IT IS ALL ABOUT HIM AND HIS CAREER. HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THIS COUNTRY. WHAT A BUM!
FOR THE PEOPLE ON HERE WHO HAVE THE CAJONES TO TRY AND JUSTIFY WHY THIS IDIOT OBAMA WON'T DO HIS JOB, I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU. YOU POOR PATHETIC SOULS. STOP DRINKIN THE KOOL AIDE!

"John McCain looks like a President today."

I agree 100%. And that President's name is Bush.

The John McChicken Retreat Song

He is packing it in and packing it up
And sneaking away and buggering up
And chickening out and pissing off home,
Yes, bravely he is throwing in the sponge...

(kudos to Monty Python)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

John McChicken knows Obama will beat him in the debate.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/09/obamas_fannie_mae_connection.html

The Facts

The McCain video attempts to link Obama to Franklin Raines, the former CEO of the bankrupt mortgage giant, Fannie Mae, who also happens to be African American. It then shows a photograph of an elderly white woman taxpayer who has supposedly been "stuck with the bill" as a result of the "extensive financial fraud" at Fannie Mae.

The Obama campaign last night issued a statement by Raines insisting, "I am not an advisor to Barack Obama, nor have I provided his campaign with advice on housing or economic matters." Obama spokesman Bill Burton went a little further, telling me in an e-mail that the campaign had "neither sought nor received" advice from Raines "on any matter."

So what evidence does the McCain campaign have for the supposed Obama-Raines connection? It is pretty flimsy, but it is not made up completely out of whole cloth. McCain spokesman Brian Rogers points to three items in the Washington Post in July and August. It turns out that the three items (including an editorial) all rely on the same single conversation, between Raines and a Washington Post business reporter, Anita Huslin, who wrote a profile of the discredited Fannie Mae boss that appeared on July 16. The profile reported that Raines, who retired from Fannie Mae four years ago, had "taken calls from Barack Obama's presidential campaign seeking his advice on mortgage and housing policy matters."

Since this has now become a campaign issue, I asked Huslin to provide the exact circumstances of the quote. She explained that she was chatting with Raines during the photo shoot, and asked "if he was engaged at all with the Democrats' quest for the White House. He said that he had gotten a couple of calls from the Obama campaign. I asked him about what, and he said 'oh, general housing, economy issues.' ('Not mortgage/foreclosure meltdown or Fannie-specific,' I asked, and he said 'no.')"

By Raines's own account, he took a couple of calls from someone on the Obama campaign, and they had some general discussions about economic issues. I have asked both Raines and the Obama people for more details on these calls and will let you know if I receive a reply.

The Pinocchio Test
The McCain campaign is clearly exaggerating wildly in attempting to depict Franklin Raines as a close adviser to Obama on "housing and mortgage policy." If we are to believe Raines, he did have a couple of telephone conversations with someone in the Obama campaign. But that hardly makes him an adviser to the candidate himself -- and certainly not in the way depicted in the McCain video release.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Over the past week Team McCain has perfected a new kind of political attack that should offend the sensibilities of campaign junkies everywhere--simply because it's so counterproductive. First, McCain chastises Obama for committing a sin that he himself has committed. Then Obama points this out, distracting voters from his own foibles and refocusing the spotlight on McCain. For Obama, the impact of the attack is immediately negated. But for McCain it's doubled: he ends up looking both a) guilty of whatever he accused Obama of and b) totally hypocritical.

WHY MCCAIN AND THE PRESIDENCY SHOULD NOT COMINGLE!

The real problem here is that McCain's campaign is swarming with 26 advisers or fundraisers who have lobbied for Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac--including nearly a dozen who lobby right now. As the Washington Monthly's Steve Benen wrote last week, "one of McCain's top policy advisers, Charlie Black, was lobbyist for Freddie Mac for 10 years, while his campaign manager, Rick Davis, lobbied to help Fannie and Freddie steer clear of additional federal regulations [and earned $2 million in the process]... Tom Loeffler, who serves McCain's campaign co-chairman, also lobbied for Fannie Mae. Aquiles Suarez, a McCain economic adviser, was a Fannie Mae executive. Dan Crippen, a McCain adviser who helped craft the campaign's health-care policy, lobbied for Fannie Mae (and Merrill Lynch). Arthur B. Culvahouse, who helped lead McCain's VP search committee, also lobbied for Fannie Mae." According to former Fannie Mae executive William Maloni, "photographs of Sen. McCain's staff... loo[k] to me like the team of lobbyists who used to report to me." Without these ties--which are far more extensive than Obama's--McCain would have every right to say that associating with officials from troubled financial institutions is a sign of bad judgment. Again, it's not like Obama's hands are spotless. But with them, McCain offers Obama an otherwise unavailable opportunity to remind voters that McCain's own judgment--at least by McCain's own standards--is worse.

Cluck, Cluck, Cluck
Cluck, Cluck, McCluck
Cluck, McCluck Cluck!

j:
"The debate should be postponed.
John McCain looks like a President today.
In his announcement to temporarily suspend his Presidential campaign to return to Washington D.C. to work toward a bipartisan solution to the nation's economic situation, Sen. McCain is demonstrating what real leadership is.
John McCain is putting our country first and politics second. It's the right thing to do.
Sen. Barack Obama should follow Sen. McCain's lead
visit
RealDemocratsUSA.org
Taking back our party, one neighborhood at a time
Join us!"

No thanks, not interested.

McCain reason for wanting to delay the debate with Obama - The Pit Bull ate his notes...

no he has not got druping jaws because he has had a stork. He has been trying out for a movie called "the God Father to the Rescue" I thought he had tried out for the duet part with Fontella Bass with the song "Rescue Me" then someone I know said those were all lies and that he was going to sign a bill for more war. But when to assended on the mob at D.C. they all laughted and said we knew you would fall for it. those knots are getting bigger with each passing day ,he is gritting and grinding his teeth because he is falling behind in the polls.

Ok Mike, we'll take your word for it and vote for john McCain.
not.

I was leaning McCain, but not after this stunt.

THIS IS WHY LIBERALISM AND GOVERNMENT DON’T MIX
We’re in this financial mess because the realities of economics trumps the liberal social programs every time...thank Democrats.
Banks use to require an income appropriate to the debt undertaken. Democrats called this "Red lining" and "encouraged"(with a big stick) lending institutions to relax these discriminatory practices.
Frank Raines the Obama financial adviser today was the CEO of Fannie Mae when this payment began. Frank Raines was Clinton's
Budget manager and fired for Fannie Mae in 2005 for failure of leadership!! he left making almost a 100 million dollars!!

Top Recipients of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Campaign Contributions, 1989-2008

1. Dodd, Christopher D-CT $133,900
2. Kerry, John D-MA $111,000
3. Obama, Barack D-IL $105,849
4. Clinton, Hillary D-NY $75,550
No wonder Obama doesn’t want to go back to Washington

We’re in this financial mess because the realities of economics trumps the liberal social programs every time

Brave McChicken ran away.
Bravely ran away, away!
When Obama told him to drop dead,
He bravely turned his tail and fled.
Yes, brave McChicken turned about
And gallantly he chickened out.
Bravely taking to his feet
He beat a very brave retreat,
Bravest of the brave, John McChicken!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kudos to Monty Python (Search for the Holy Grail).

mcCain is not Able .

all the people that I know are a little embaressed to let it be known that at one time they were for McVanish. Obama is liked for his steadfastness, cool, ability to think.

McCain needs to delay the debate long enough to come up with some really good "sound bites" about the economy. That is typical Republican thinking.

mCvanish muckVanish mickvanish mickeymouse. the mcsame. he just vanished into the clouds .maybe he is the assending lord of spin and majic. did you see that ,oh that was john going to get more depends.

Harry Reid and Barney Frank have made it clear that Obama has nothing to add to their deliberations on the bailout and so can continue his campaign.

An interesting vote of no-confidence in their party's candidate,

In a time of crisis, everyone does what they do best.
McCain goes into action and looks for resolution to a serious problem...a leader

Obama goes to speeches and platitudes and looks for his teleprompter...an empty suit

that dropping jaw is not a stroke it a bore.

The debate should be postponed.

John McCain looks like a President today.

In his announcement to temporarily suspend his Presidential campaign to return to Washington D.C. to work toward a bipartisan solution to the nation's economic situation, Sen. McCain is demonstrating what real leadership is.

John McCain is putting our country first and politics second. It's the right thing to do.

Sen. Barack Obama should follow Sen. McCain's lead

visit

RealDemocratsUSA.org

Taking back our party, one neighborhood at a time

Join us!!

McCain says that he has "suspended" his campaign for obvious reasons; but instead, he has "ABANDONED" it. Obama's actions have shown Americans that instead of "abandoning" us as McCain has, he will stick with us and stick up for us during this critical time. Thank you Obama!

POOR OBAMA
He had his teleprompter and platitudes all ready to go.

mcVanish.

This just in: McDonalds to sue McCain for giving the McChicken sandwich a bad name.

Looks like I'm right on something...AT LAST!

Obama is a man and a good one says the truth. he will not leave you for phoney postureing and make up silly stories for silly people to fall for. you my friend are a kookkist -krazy- koolaidist. Obama for 2008 as far as I am concerned Obama has my vote he has been instrumental in helping me and others keep our pensions.

As someone who absolutely despises GW Bush and the horrible mess he and his cronies have made over the last 8 years, it pains me to say this, but Bush is actually looking more dependable and clear-headed when compared to McCain. McCain is obviously a man who refuses to play the hand that's dealt and tries to change the rules whenever things aren't going his way. This isn't the sign of leadership, but rather a pathetic little boy who always wants to have his way. It's time he go back home to his mama, and let the adult (i.e. Obama) take care of this country!!!

How is McCain going to "solve" the bailout bill? He isn't in the majority, he isn't in the executive branch, he isn't in Republican leadership, and he isn't on the relevant committees. As far as I know, there is no plan for Congress and the exec branch to meet from 8-9:30 pm on Friday night to work on the bailout and even if they were, McCain isn't needed there to figure it out. I frankly don't want a man who thought the fundamentals of our economy were sound 8 days ago directing or even giving input on how to fix the very obviously broken economy.

So... if the economic crisis is not resolved (or a least satisfactorily addressed)by November 4th, we just won't have any debates? Scam, scam, scam.

LeeHInAlexandria, I apologize. I see now you are a *parody* of Republican posts.

Man, it's hard to tell the difference between Republicans and parodies of Republicans.

yes Obama is a Markzist and yuis a kookist .clanist and olive oilist.

So when would be a good time to hold the debate? I know, November 5th. Face it, mccain mcchicken will never debate Obama. And by the way, Mooseburger will never debate Joe Biden. After all, when was the last time any republikan had anything worthwhile to say to working class Americans? Financial crisis my foot! Let those rich crooks fail. I wouldn't postpone lunch to give them the time of day.

LeeHInAlexandria: "I don't like McCain, but the alternative is Marxism."

Wow. That's breathtaking.

So Marxism = Not McCain?

And yet you believe in the party that is asking for $700 billion to nationalize the financial sector? That's not Marxism? But anything else is?

I'm at a loss to imagine what exactly you think Marxism is.

Wow. I really can't even think of how to challenge such a deep, profound, limitless ignorance.

But let me repeat your post so everyone absorbs it:

"I don't like McCain, but the alternative is Marxism."

Wow.

Here is my update on a child's poem I learned years ago about your man, McCain. We are probably all familiar with the children’s poem about Chicken Little (McCain). This rather "dumb cluck" was struck on the head with an acorn (bailout plan) and she immediately concluded that the sky was falling (financial crisis). She quickly gathered her friends, Goosey Loosey, Ducky Lucky and Turkey Lurky (Paulson, Bush W, Bernacke), sharing her alarming news with them. As the panicked group ran off to tell the king (the American People), the cunning Foxy Loxy (Obama) had them all for lunch (Friday debate), literally.

John McCain was a prisoner of war for 5 years, and he can't hold up to the pressure of attending a meeting in DC on Thursday and going to a Friday debate in MS with Obama. How can he stand up to Iran or North Korea when they call him out to debate their nuclear weapons program--I guess he will fly to Crawford, Texas and be with Turkey Lurkey (bush W). E-mail John McCain and tell him to meet Obama in MS on Friday so the American People can hear them debate!

Alright, some "debate" is proceeding as scheduled. Wonderful. That's what I had marked for Friday, and that's what I intend to see from these political figures. One can be tuned in on the issues, informed, but also address the people as well. I need that in a president. I find it important.

What's 45 minutes each going to do, out of a whole day? Why not meet before and after the debate?

he acts like a neocon, he smells like a neocon, he talks just like a neocon,he dresses just like a neocon he crys like a neocon, he leaves and vanishes just like a neocon and he hide behind a little girl.

by Friday afternoon, the McCain staff will issue the following statement:
"..that the Campaign was never suspended, as the media had misquoted, yet again, their intentions. In fact it was Obama's suggestion, to hold a joint meeting on the economy, and they assumed that meant an all day summit on Friday in Washington, thus making it impossible to hold a debate on the same day. Obama should be ashamed of putting politics first....". -end of statement.

All you can do against Obama is come up with Racist BS.. think!!

Posted by: AMT64 | September 24, 2008 11:15 PM

I've called Senator Obama for what he is: A liar and a Marxist. Is that racist?

Posted by: LeeHInAlexandria | September 24, 2008 11:17 PM

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And prior to our government turning this country into the United Socialist States of America, I called Obama a socialist. I'm qualified to be a John McChicken supporter because I can flip-flop just as good as John McChicken can.

it pretty plain and simple mcvanish has left the room . mcVanish.lol lol just like a neocon.

Obama's right. This is the time to face each other.
Why delay? What is McCaine hiding. Another surgery?
Another illness. Another testosterone shot?
Lack of courage. Lack of confidence. Lack of knowledge
on the issues without a teleprompter?

Posted by: Blake Southwood | September 24, 2008 11:32 PM

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I think McCain may be getting near another stroke and needs this as an excuse to get to a hospital!

Have you seen the left side of McCain's face? He's had a mild stroke!

Obama is a marxist? Can explain exactly what marxism is and how Obama has shown himself to be one?
thanks

Posted by: Anonymous | September 24, 2008 11:29 PM

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No I can't because I don't want to open myself up for honest criticism of a man who just gave the McChicken sandwich at McDonalds a bad name.

McDonalds should sue John McChicken.

Obama's right. This is the time to face each other.
Why delay? What is McCaine hiding. Another surgery?
Another illness. Another testosterone shot?
Lack of courage. Lack of confidence. Lack of knowledge
on the issues without a teleprompter?

Pogo: we have seen the enemy and he is us.

Democrats, Debates are not won or lost by logic, but rather on the emotional reaction of the audience to the candidate. Therefore don't count your chickens yet.

Republicans, you know this is political games-manship. The question is how will it play with the public. Honestly, I wanted to hear their answers to our current crises. And how they react under the glare of TV lights. Thus, I think many undecide will resent McCains suspension of his campaign.

I'm not hurling insults, I am only speaking the truth as I hear it on Fox News.

Songbird rides again. The man who sold us out as a POW is now running away from the Presidential campaign. This is a democracy. Even Hoover didn't call off the election of 1932, during the depths of the Great Depression.

mccain is a

COWARD.

COWARD.

COWARD.

COWARD.

poor ole boy all those medals are weighing him down ,showing them all the time is exhausting. talking about them is tiring and hearing about them is boring. it is a good thing he will not be president because he would need to halt the state of the union address to get more depends and polish.

.. huh.

Obama is a marxist? Can explain exactly what marxism is and how Obama has shown himself to be one?
thanks

Now that the republicans in Washington have turned us into a socialist country, we should give them four more years to turn it into a third world socialist country. then we won't have to worry about socialism, marxism, or any of the other garbage lies that I am spewing to take the heat off of John McChicken.

Just the time we need leadership and Obama stands up to the plate and McCaine wants to hide just like Bush and Cheney.

There are a lot of swiss bank accounts growing in size by
the second and being converted into gold bullion.

The Great Depression cometh.

I am prepared to debate any Republican willing to debate real economic issues. Those of you hurling insults are chasing independents away from McCain.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 24, 2008 11:20 PM

I'm not hurling insults, I am only speaking the truth.

McCain is a chicken! McCain has no balls! McCain is a chicken! McCain has no balls! McCain is a chicken! McCain has no balls! McCain is a chicken! McCain has no balls! McCain is a chicken! McCain has no balls! McCain is a chicken! McCain has no balls! McCain is a chicken! McCain has no balls! McCain is a chicken! McCain has no balls! McCain is a chicken! McCain has no balls! McCain is a chicken! McCain has no balls! McCain is a chicken! McCain has no balls! McCain is a chicken! McCain has no balls! McCain is a chicken! McCain has no balls! McCain is a chicken! McCain has no balls! McCain is a chicken! McCain has no balls!

American voters are paying attention and McCain's stunt-making is being seen for what it is. There is NO WAY he can avoid the debate without looking stupid. It takes 2 hours to fly from DC to Oxford, MS in a private plane with traffic escorts.

75% of people want the debates and campaigns to go ahead. We must be able to assess how the people who will be left with this mess will handle it.

McCain will need to explain how he'll cut the average CEO's taxes by $700,000 and only cut the average nurse's tax by $435 (while making her employer subsidized health care fully taxable) build nuclear power plants, pay for the bailout and still balance the books.

I am prepared to debate any Republican willing to debate real economic issues. Those of you hurling insults are chasing independents away from McCain.

Is something wrong with McCain's eye...or is this just a strange photo?

A president has to be able to do MANY things at any given time. McCain just can't drop everything to attend a crisis. The whole country is in crisis on many fronts! This smells of injecting Presidential politics into an already barely bipartisan effort - what chance is there now of crafting a successful bailout agreement with McCain running around and poking his finger into things that are moving along with relative speed? Not much. In fact, now by inserting Presidential politics there is even a greater chance that the bailout will come to nothing! This is not only unpresidential - it's irresponsible by causing even more fears in the market.

All you can do against Obama is come up with Racist BS.. think!!

Posted by: AMT64 | September 24, 2008 11:15 PM

I've called Senator Obama for what he is: A liar and a Marxist. Is that racist?

______________________________________________________________________

Before you start calling me or other patriots neocons... you might want to understand what you are calling us.

NEOCON

The current usage of the term by far left socialists who use the term as a derogatory term to decribe conservatives has a comical result. Ironically the term did not orginally and still does not decribe in any understandable way the beliefs of the opposition party that the current users of the term intend. Given a vocabulary of 1000-2000 it becomes obvious why socialists want to label conservatives something derrogatory. The humorous side comes when educated readers quickly see how inadequate the attempt becomes.

From Wikipedia:

The term neoconservative was originally used as a criticism against liberals who had "moved to the right".[3][4] Michael Harrington, a democratic socialist, coined the usage of neoconservative in a 1973 Dissent magazine article concerning welfare policy.[5] According to E. J. Dionne, the nascent neoconservatives were driven by "the notion that liberalism" had failed and "no longer knew what it was talking about."[1]

_______________________________________________________________________

So before you use the word neocon as some kind of "cut" on a republican, you might want to know the term is really the definition of a Democrat who doesn't believe in socialism. So if you are criticizing those Democrats who don't believe in socialism, does that mean you are a proponent of socialism?

Unfortunately for the free and proud of the US of A, that is most likely the case.

This is another s. Palin move by mccain. have you noticed when things dont go his way he does DRASTIC things? Think about this type of logic in a National emergency! This man could have us in WW3 just because some country did not do what 'he' wanted. Come neo's or Rebuplicans can't you see he is already showing signs of 'stress' which means you think s. Palin should be President.. Think about the Country(our Country). All you can do against Obama is come up with Racist BS.. think!!

McCain lost my vote.

LeeHInAlexandria, so it's ok for you and your kind to sink to the level of the I Hate America liberals as you call them?

You are no better, in fact I expected more out of the republicans than this. I have to wonder just how much you love America if you're so willing to swim in this filth.

Posted by: despair | September 24, 2008 11:09 PM

Hey despair,

I don't like McCain, but the alternative is Marxism. McCain is not a Reagan Republican anymore like he once was and neither are many of his co-Republicans in Congress. What we need is less government not more.

Senator with 26-year record of disdain for oversight and regulation for financial institutions calls off presidential debate as to offer his personal oversight
for lending/insurance institutions that have crashed due to lack of voting for political oversight and regulation!

Does anyone see the sick irony here?
Shakespeare couldn’t write this stuff!

Mccain are you strong enough, are you mentally fit and is your health capable to endure the demand for the job?
Evidentially not!

This is what McCain removed from Obama's proposed joint statement. So I assume he doesn't believe in any of this. Who do you agree with?

/>>

First, there must be oversight. We should not hand over a blank check to the discretion of one man. We support an independent, bipartisan board to ensure accountability and complete transparency.

Second, we need to protect taxpayers. There should be a path for taxpayers to recover their money, and to turn a profit if Wall Street prospers.

Third, no Wall Street executive should profit from taxpayer dollars. This plan cannot be a welfare program for CEOs whose greed and irresponsibility has contributed to this crisis.

Fourth, we must help families who are struggling to stay in their homes. We cannot bail out Wall Street without helping millions of families facing foreclosure on Main Street.

Fifth, we both agree that this financial rescue package should move on its own without any earmarks or other measures. We have different views about the need for other action, but this must be a clean bill.

This is a time to rise above politics for the good of the country. We cannot risk an economic catastrophe. This is not a Democratic problem or a Republican problem - this is an American problem. Now, we must find an American solutions.

McCain's left eye looks droopy, like he's sick. It looks kind of dead, like the side of his face is falling. Is it a stroke coming? Is he ill? I don't remember him looking like this. Maybe that's why he's taking time off.

Obama should attend and respond to the questions Leherer will ask, then open the rest of the time to answer questions from the audience.

We benefit by knowing Obama's position. Senator McCain benefits because his confusion and lapses remain hidden. Besides, what more can Senator McCain say which President Bush has not already said?

even people who are non-partisan are shaking their heads at this one. I have respect for some things about McCain. This move...is scary. He has no role on the finance committee. He is not an economic expert. He has not been part of ongoing discussions. What exactly does he think his presence accomplishes? Moreover, what does his presence during the day have to do with his debate at night? More than just being blatantly political, which I expect from all politicians on both sides, this is just blatantly reckless.

McCain has proven himself to be a shallow, oppurtunistic headline grabber in this election.
And he is not done yet.
Watch the headlines and follow John McCain.

I have heard there is a poll showing Obama in lead in Virginia.

Maybe that is why McCain is doing this. If he loses Virginia even if he wins Florida and Ohio he loses the election.

Bold move when you know you are losing is not a risk. Its all about changing the dynamics.

You have to wonder though. With all this running from scrutiny of the McCain Campaign does McCain believe in freedom of the press.

LeeHInAlexandria, so it's ok for you and your kind to sink to the level of the I Hate America liberals as you call them?

You are no better, in fact I expected more out of the republicans than this. I have to wonder just how much you love America if you're so willing to swim in this filth.

People really don't care about any stupid debate right now. The most important thing right now is the bailout of the illegal's home purchases. Depression is pretty easy to understand.

TO "Posted by: Dianne72" are you a IDIOT or just play one on the BLOGS'?

John Boy,

To quote the immortal Joe Louis, "You can run, but you can't hide."

Not behind Sarah's skirts, and not in the Oval Office with your mentor.

Both you and that Polar bear-hating bimbo have to face the American public before November. You might as well come out Friday and take your whuppin' like a man.

You'll regret it if you don't.

Let's cut this BS by Republicans. We have a President in office already and we have an elected Congress. They should be working on this. It's not like McCain is the guy who is in charge that he needs to postpone the debate and rush to DC.

Posted by: RJ | September 24, 2008 11:03 PM

RJ, when you are President or running for President, you are essentially the head of your party. Also, Senator Reid was telling people around the capital today that he really needed John McCain here in DC to get a deal done.

by a margin of 3 to 1, the public wants the debate to go ahead with focus on the economy and some foreign policy.

McCain and company are in a panic. Encumbent presidents manage crises and campaigns all the time, if he can't multi task he has no business running and should not be elected. If you want to know the real reason for this panic reaction, take a look at the softball interview of Palin by Katie Couric - after all this preparation she is still incapable of getting out of the talking points. McCain and company are terrified and this call to stop campaigning is nothing more than an attempt to change the subject.

Man you can smell the desperation in these McCain people here today. They've gone from Palin Mania to actual hysteria. They're throwing mud as fast as they can.

You have to wonder though, they're not all insane, not all of them are morons. What are they going to do tonight when they lay down to sleep, how many of them are going to be able to admit what's happened here today?

How many votes did McCain lose today, how many of his supporters are just not going to bother voting because of what they've seen their candidate do.

I know he's lost a lot of the independents. I was only going to vote for Obama defensively, to keep McCain out. Now I can vote for whomever I wish, there isn't a chance that McCain will win.

So Part II of McCain's strategy of
distraction to his campaign when you have an appalling track record with his close pal, George "Mission Accomplished" Bush
and have nothing sensible to say because he is completely clueless on how to deal with this massive crisis.. = abandon the presidential debates...

Prologue (Part I strategy of distraction)= shock the electorate with a gun-totting, moose hunting, "can see Russia from Alaska" hockey mum with lipstick. The shock has dissipated and the despair has now set in on this part.

So guess what is the Part III of his strategy of distraction? Postpone the Presidential elections for at least another 4 years or until this mess is all sorted out, and have his close pal continue as lame duck, globally discredited president.

Part IV: .... your guess.

McCain is probably stalling for time - so that he can deal with his upcoming Keating 5 scandal. Do you want to know more about the Keating 5 scandal? It's one of McCain's more dishonorable moments. To learn more about McCain and the Keating 5, you can visit a helpful website -

http://mccainkeatingfive.com

It explains why McCain isn't the best candidate for president. I think we should stop the Republican Culture of Corruption before it gets any worse.

look at Dianne72 John McCain, look at the people who claim to be your most devoted followers.

These are the kind of people you want on your side?

I'm becoming ashamed of you John McCain.

Posted by: despair | September 24, 2008 10:57 PM

And what about all of the 'I Hate America' posts on here from the left side of the aisle.

the way to have averted this mess is to not be in Iraq spending billions of dollars. That impacted our economy. Houses are not selling. Yes the lenders screwed up, but if the housing market had not dipped, they could have recovered...however, due to our trmendous DEBT...due to... THE USELESS WAR in Iraq...here we are...

focus, focus people...focus!

Let's cut this BS by Republicans. We have a President in office already and we have an elected Congress. They should be working on this. It's not like McCain is the guy who is in charge that he needs to postpone the debate and rush to DC.

"And now McChicken doesn't even want to have one!"

No, Grasshopper.

McCain wants the three debates agreed to. He simply asked to reschedule Friday's debate.

Perhaps Obama is fearful that he'll forget the cramming he's done over the last few days and will have to relearn his talking points once again.

Obama
Go on with the tv show debates and answer questions
from people and bathe in the limelight and have experts
ask questions with you and have professors and experts
ask you question also. That would be great.

McCaine is AFRAID. VERY AFRAID.

WOW ARE THE DEMOCRATS IN DEEP DODO.
Yes the man Obama picked for his experience and wisdom and foreign affairs ability said this:
"When the stock market crashed, Franklin Roosevelt got on the television and didn't just talk about the princes of greed. He said, 'look, here's what happened.'"

-- Sen. Joe Biden, in an interview with CBS News.

Of course, as Reason points out, Roosevelt wasn't president in 1929 and televisions were still experimental.

Yes could you imagine if Palin or McCain said this? The WP parrots couldn't contain themselves...their feathers would be flying and want McCain sent to an institution immediately and Palin back in beauty contests.
Yes Democrats and WP parrots, so sorry your STUCK WITH TWEEDLEDEE AND TWEEDLEDUM.
The only choice you have have is which one is TWEEDLEDEE and which one is TWEEDLEDUM
Yes, you can start debating that now

Okay, I actually am a shrink. I like the idea that McCain is controlling. Most people who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress do tend to exhibit such behaviors. I wonder if McCain has ever been treated for PTSD, as many war veterans returning from traumatic experiences have.

Having said that, Obama showed a real strength in not letting McCain manipulate him. Remember when Katrina hit, Bush hemmed and haaad... not sure what to do.

McSame is also using stalling tactics because he knows Obama will eat him for lunch when it comes to FACTS, intelligent debataing, hello Obama is a Harvard Law man... pleeeeeeeease... McCain is dust.

and Palin is dust too once Biden gets his teeth in her.....

McCain need this deal to be done, so he can get more campaign funds!

I had heard that Obama was insisting Bob Barr (Libertarian Party Presidental Canadidate) be in the debates and McCain didn't want to debate a REAL Conservative, so he is taking advantage of the BUSHCO BIG SPENDING Disaster on Wall Street to get out of it.

If McCain debated Barr, Americans would see that the GOP is NOT "Conservative" at all, rather the NEO-GOP has become BIGGER SOCIALISTS than the DEMS, case in point, the "BAIL-OUTS". Those concerned about the economy would see that the LIBERTARIANS are the ONLY REAL "Fiscally Responsible Conservative" Party in this race and that could be a BIG problem for McSame!

Yep, McCain is probably wise to CUT AND RUN, although it makes him look like a COWARD!

look at Dianne72 John McCain, look at the people who claim to be your most devoted followers.

These are the kind of people you want on your side?

I'm becoming ashamed of you John McCain.

McCain is shaking in his boots because he has to debate Obama, the Bush presidency is at an all time low in popularity, the Iraq war is costing us $12 billion a month, ober 4,100 US soldiers have died in Iraq since '03, and now Bush wants the tax-payers to bail-out the WEALTHY Wall street Executives by spending the tax-payers' $700 Billion. What are the Republicans thinking? The Republicans really don't know how to run a government, do they? I am so glad that the Republicans will be out of the White House soon. President Obama will do a much better job (after he cleans up the Republicans' mess).

Banking Crisis, McCain and Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild.

Am I the only one smelling a rat here?

Posted by: Anonymous | September 24, 2008 10:42 PM

========================
Good Post ,but a lot do not understand who the Rothschild family is. I do and so do others who have been doing a little investigation into why the fed is causeing the crises. the fed the neocons and the central banker along with the globalist are a busy bunch of money masters. mater over my tax and my prosperity and the master minds of the tanking of the middle class. you repucks need to study and show yourself aproved just like you silly religious gang.

I don't want to take advice from the economy from a man who admitted that he did not know the details of his advisor's severance package -- isn't she an example of why we're in an economic crisis? The VPs of companies get huge severance packages, while the workers are laid off by the thousands?

"John McCain has been quick to criticize the lucrative payouts for the heads of bailed-out mortgage lenders at Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. But for the second time in as many days, the Republican presidential nominee declined to apply the same principle to his campaign’s high-profile economic adviser.

After touring a solar power panel factory in rural, Freeland, Mich., a reporter asked McCain Tuesday if his campaign economic adviser, Carly Fiorina, who once led Hewlett Packard Co. but was forced to step down, should give back any portion of her golden parachute. McCain quickly drew a distinction between HP and the mortgage lenders he singled out, calling them quasi-governmental lenders.

“Carly Fiorina is a role model to millions of American women,” McCain said pointing out that she rose from working as a part-time secretary to heading HP. He added: “I’m proud of her record.”

McCain had been asked about Fiorina’s compensation package in an interview Monday on NBC-TVs Today Show. “I think she did a good job as CEO in many respects,” he said, adding: “I don’t know the details of her compensation package but she is one of many advisers that I have.”"

McCain to the rescue!
Go get 'em Sarah!
Hurray for our team!
Puke!

why on earth would McCain manufacture a "lack of consensus" on the bill as submitted, when everyone is just about to reach a deal on all the modifications necessary to the bill as submitted?

simple, 'cause someone told him he could look like the cowboy who rode in to town on a white horse to save the day.

only a couple problems

1) there was no lack of progress in reaching a consensus to begin with, so there's no "day" to save

2) the folks in DC who know what they are doing and are working on it would absolutely agree that McCain is the last person whose help they would want, and

3) McCain is so busy lying to Letterman about needing to cancel his appearance to get to Washington (watch Letterman tonight calling out McCain for lying to him - somehow McCain didn't think he would be caught down the hall taping an interview with Couric and not leaving til tomorrow) that his horse won't even get to Washington before the deal is done, at which time he will look like the complete fool he takes the American public for.

2)

It's over McCain. I look at your image on top of this thread and it makes weep.

You should never have consorted with Jerry Falwell, you should never have listened to Karl Rove, you should never have picked the religious fanatic trollop to be your VP.

You should have listened to your own mind on these things, you should have kept your soul instead of selling it to these people in a vain attempt to win the presidency.

I would have voted for you, proudly. But this, this?

I'm sorry John McCain, I can't vote for you any more.

For the memory impaired, McCain wanted 10 debates. Obama's handlers were so terrified that their candidate would screw up (a safe bet after his weak performances in the primary debates) they agreed to only three.

Posted by: WylieD | September 24, 2008 10:38 PM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And now McChicken doesn't even want to have one!

McChicken needs to retire; he's too tired for the presidency.

Way to go with the cute campaign gimmicks John. First the lies about the cone of silence at saddleback, then the miracle of Saint Sarah, now this ploy to game the debates (nice coordination with GW in the whitehouse).

I have an idea for you John. You and Obama meet at the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago and answer questions from Rev. Jeremiah Wright about the Bail out Bill. We will call it "Putting Country First - A Very Special Political Forum About the Financial Crises."

Seeing that you trapped in side your rovian bubble of lies we will not make you pretend like you are in a cone of silence this time.

In all seriousness, McCain's action is a terrible idea. The last thing this crisis needs is partisan presidential politics injecting itself into the situation. It's already happening...the bailout negotiations have become a circus since this afternoon. The last two people I want to see in DC right now are McCain and Obama.

I liked that the campaigns have laid low while paulson & co. have tried to sort out the way forward. Congress needs to pass legislation. And McCain needs to stay out of it. Electoral politics will not make the situation better. McCain shouldnt be allowed to politicize this further by trying to score points and dodge the debate with Obama.

I can't imagine why McCain consulted with Mitt Romney today, instead of Sarah, can you?

He sealed the deal today. He's done. Thank goodness.

This is a huge publicity stunt.

What can McCain do?

Didn't he say, "“The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should... I’ve got Greenspan’s book”?

Yes, Obama shows his multi-tasking skills. He has himself holed up in a Clearwater, FL hotel all week to prepare for the debate. Sounds like cramming for an exam. Does he know his way around DC yet?

To the person who blames Republicans for the financial mess...Uh...who is charge of congress? Oh yeah, the DO NOTHING DEMOCRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Probably too busy spending all that money they received from Fannie May and Freddie Mac to worry about the average tax payer!

Posted by: shania | September 24, 2008 10:38 PM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gee, too bad the sleazeball RepubliCONs in the Congress and the Senate (the RepubliCONs still hold that), not to mention the sleazeball RepubliCON president and vice president stonewall everything the Democrats have tried to accomplish.

The Democrats don't have a 2/3 majority to override a Bush veto.

Yes, it is the REPUBLICANS fault.

I think we can all agree - that McCain is putting on a "little show". The thing is - Obama has been surging in polls again - because Palin's luster has worn off. Now that people know that Palin "can see Russia from her house" - the voters are realizing that John McCain made a bad choice. So, McCain is now being dramatic - and making a spectacle of himself. He's going to say that the economy deserves his undivided attention - but you know what - McCain and his party should have been paying more attention 6 months ago. So hey McCain! It's is a tad LATE to start caring about the economy now.

You just can't make this stuff up!

McCain's doing the right thing. No-answer Nobama is doing the Obama thing. Obama is afraid if he goes to D.C., somebody's going to make him vote; and somebody will actually RECORD it.

McCain is taking care of the country. Obama is taking care of the empty-suited Obama.

McCain has risked his career before to do the right thing. He'll get more votes by being in Washington, shown doing what he is being paid for, than appearing at shopping malls and preening for the cameras like Obama.

i agree we should NOT delay the debate, either. i was the one who posted that i agree with bernie sanders. write your legislators and tell them we don't want to give our tax money away to those who gambled us into this mess. also, we want to bring back regulatory safeguards that mccain's friends gramm etc. convinced us to get rid of in '99 and before.

It seems like day to day damage control in his campaign requires moves like these.

He goes to Washington, the conservatives put together another quick fix proposal and tag McCain's name on it, saying he was instrumental in putting it together.
It also gives him a perfect exscuse to get a lesson in the current economic crisis, get the info and names down pat, hopefully making him sound like he knows what he's talking about when they do debate.
Then all he has to do is come back, attack Obama for not going with him and make himself out to be the patriot who cares about our economy and how it affects you and me.
As if patriotism has anything to do with wall street and corporate greed.

McCain to the rescue!

What a dumb, stupid request. I'm glad Obama told him no.

Banking Crisis, McCain and Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild.

Am I the only one smelling a rat here?

This crisis didn't develop over the course of a few days, and it won't be solved in a short time either. Th market is not going to totally collapse just because we take a few days to reason through things. Lawmakers owe it to us to carefully consider what should be done, and not to jump to swallow wholesale the "solution" proposed by the party in power that is also in cahoots with the powerful people who caused this mess. I support Senator Bernie Sanders's recommendations. See his well-written petition here: http://sanders.senate.gov/petitions/?petition=Financial_Crisis_1

Obama has been touting all week long, that this financial issue is the worst thing since the great depression.

However its not an important enough of a issue, for Obama to stop campaigning.

Can any of you Bots explain that ?

Posted by: Bishop TuTu | September 24, 2008 9:47 PM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

John McSame can't multi-task, which is a requirement to be President!

Can you explain why McSame doesn't have the nads to debate Obama? He spent a lot of time squawking that Obama wouldn't debate him; now McSame uses this as an excuse to get out of the debate that he's been begging for? How convenient!

Does "I don't understand much about the economy" McCain think he can add anything of value by postponing the debate. What's next, he's going to ask for the election to be postponed because Palin is on her period? Does McCain think that only he will be able to fix the financial crisis that he and Gramm created?

An hour or two for a debate will not hurt the economy anymore than it already is.

I never thought that McCain would reinvent himself as the McChicken sandwich at McDonalds.

Here's the number--Commission on Presidential Debates: 202-872-1020...call and demand the debate on Friday...if we can hold an election during the Civil War and right around D Day, I think a debate can be held on Friday evening.

Report about the David Letterman show:

"You don't suspend your campaign. This doesn't smell right," he said. "This isn't the way a tested hero behaves." And he joked: "I think someone's putting something in his metamucil."

And another: "What are you going to do if you're elected and things get tough? Suspend being president? We've got a guy like that now!"

McCain is trying an old control trick. He thinks he is wielding his power by not attending the Debate. I am glad Obama told this childish little old man that No as Far As I am concerned the Debate goes on. McCain is used to being controling if someone is ahead of him. and that is a very bad trait for a president. Bush is also a controler Both of these two ole boys are foot stomping ninnies. fist shakers and crybabies. control issues are very hard to stop when you are as old as McCain. He looks Very tired his control issues have about got the best of him. look at him . He does not want to be President for the good of the country He just needs to control. like bush this is bad when it comes to being president. control issues are hard for some to detect but if they go to a good shrinke they can start to see why they behave like a little kid. control issues are the #1 problem with criminals of all sorts. a lot of control freeks beat their wives , do great bodily damage to others and control conversations and start fights steal,connive,contrive issues,smile and talk sweet and caring and all sorts of things are caused by the need to control. personally I like the predictable people like Obama,not a Drama artist,calm and relaxed and poised. takes time to focus, leads instead of drives. listens to others , weights things , senceable , not hecktic, not theatrical,has his own mind and yet will take other peoples thoughts into view and add his own and he will build a relationship. controlers are not relationship types. they run others off. controlers set up their own rejection. that is partly why bush has failed the people the people do not like him , and the lure of mcvain is leaveing the people as well.

P.S.

And, Obama's votes of "present" mean "No, with reservations." It is a shorthand way of indicating openness to negotiation, rather than a solid "no."

This idea that it's wishy washy isn't true. Look it up yourself.

Hey John Boy,

Come out and take your whuppin' like the man you want us to think you are.

No more hiding behind Sarah's skirts or behind your idol, GWB.

Get out here and talk to us, you gutless wonder. NOW!!!!

For the memory impaired, McCain wanted 10 debates. Obama's handlers were so terrified that their candidate would screw up (a safe bet after his weak performances in the primary debates) they agreed to only three.

To the person who blames Republicans for the financial mess...Uh...who is charge of congress? Oh yeah, the DO NOTHING DEMOCRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Probably too busy spending all that money they received from Fannie May and Freddie Mac to worry about the average tax payer!

Bishop TuTu!
This crisis is 2 weeks old. the president wants the deal done tommorrow. McCain just realized how serious it was WHY? No wonder he could'nt find the eject button in his jet fighter. No intellectual curiosity. Worse than bush Maybe he's possesed and you can get Sarah's pastor to lay hands on him and exercise the curiosity back. Or maybe Sarah can find some and bring it to im' Your just being CUTE.

Yet again this move by McCain demonstrates his true priorities as a politician - country first! Anyone who believes that this financial crisis is just storm in a cup of tea is dreadfully mistaken. McCain knows it and is giving his due attention. To Obama, this clearly is the best opportunity for scoring easy political points. Forget about the economy and people's life savings. Obama is willing sit and do nothing and hence sacrifice few tens of millions of US families who will undoubtedly loose their jobs and their 401K plans, because of the unresolved credit crunch. It's a worth while sacrifice for Obama to make - cause it doesn't cost him anything and he could win a lot.

I agree about the picture of McCain above - he looks like he's about to croak. But don't worry, Sarah Palin is just a heart beat away from the presidency! And Palin can see Russia from her house! And you know, Palin's extensive observation of Russia can really help Americans. You might not know it - but all the best American presidents - also saw Russia from their houses too! Being able to recognize Russia from afar - is a true test of presidential ability! Just ask John McCain! He picked a real winner.

Sue, Sue, Sue: You wrote:
"Obama is a Marxist puppet of Soros with very close ties to Terrorists, Racists and South Chicago Political Thugs and has a very angry Racist wife. Plus a voting record that has him voting for tax increases on everybody every chance he has ever had or taking the bold choice to vote "Present". He is a deceitful shady street punk.

What's not to like? ."
***************************************
Your racism is showing! "Shady," "street punk?" Really? A Columbia and Harvard graduate and first African-American President of the Harvard Law Review? Maybe you don't agree with his politics, but your adjectives betray your rage that a handsome, inspiring, eloquent, intelligent, calm and confident biracial man with european and african ancestry dares to succeed against the white male and white female. Underneath all of the emphasis on Sen. Obama's supposed "foreign-ness" or "exotic-ness," much less your more obvious choice of words betrays how much work we still need to do to combat racism in this country. I don't pretend that this response will change yours or others' like you, but I will not sit by and not respond.

Think about it: if Sen. Obama were white, would you come up with the description "street punk," especially when there is NOTHING in his biography to suggest that it is accurate. It's not even worth trying to have any discussion of black liberation theology or the fact that white people are members of Sen. Obama's former church.

Bottomline, you listen to too much Hannity, Limbaugh, Coulter - the narcissistic personality disorder, partisan, talking heads for the GOP.

McCaine has invited Obama to debate on many occasions. Obama always declines. Now you want to say McCain is afraid to debate? Ridiculous! Even more ridiculous...Obama without his telepromptor. Check out you tube for the actor without a script!

Wow, just what I want in these uncertain economic times: someone who interjects more uncertainty! Someone who denies that things are a problem, then yells louder than anyone else that the sky is falling. Because that's SO helpful in restoring confidence to the markets.

Yes, I want change. But what McCain is offering is constant drama and instability.

McCain and handlers, the 73 lobbyists who advise him knew before he "suspended his race" that the deal had already been struck.

K-Street's lobbyists were discussing the documents publicly so who here possibly thinks McCain's Lobbyists were not privy to this?

The suspension is a cut and run gambit from his dropping poll numbers, the lack of confidence in his running mate screamed from GOP rooftops

.... and his terror of debating this weekend since as he admitted numerously, he's clueless about economics which were surely going to be brought up.

I see that you're posting that crappy Bloomberg column about SB 190 again. That bill wouldn't have done anything to prevent the present crisis, because it was designed to protect institutions against interest rate fluctuations, and actually would have accelerated their investment in mortgage-backed securities, which is the root of the present problem. Try reading the actual effing bill, instead of committing a copyright violation.

1929, Republicans destroy our economy. Democrats fix it.

1992, Republicans destroy our economy. Democrats fix it.

2008, Republicans destroy our economy.

You want to see the economy really tank? Democrats should not "suspend the campaign" but withdraw from the race. Let the Republicans clean up their own mess this time, while trying to claim they aren't socialists and are the only party that believes in the free market.

The whole world knows how this story goes. If Democrats refuse to play this time, guess what happens to the dollar? Guess what happens to you?

McCain’s “I can’t debate you now” gambit may still be, like the choice of Miss Alaska 1985, a stroke of political genius, but he from many angles he looks like the fighter who spits his mouthpiece far, far away from himself at the count of seven so that he can get a “free” 90 second rest period while everybody mucks about finding his mouthpiece–unless the referee calls him on it. McCain and Obama fly all over the country and conduct serious business after brief interruptions all the time. This is Wednesday. If they debate in Oxford for two hours on Friday night, can’t they go to work saving Western-Civilization as-we-know-it again on Saturday? It seems painfully obvious that McCain doesn’t want to debate the economy as-is. Tough.

Is John McCain afraid to debate Barack Obama? Or is John McCain just trying to stall for time - so Palin won't have to debate Biden? I used to have *some* respect for John McCain before this election - but he's just sinking fast. I think Ezra Klein said it best - "You don't get to call time out when you're president." And that's what McCain is doing - calling a time out. Who is running McCain's campaign and why are they such idiots? You don't bail out on a debate!

Tell McPalin to suit up and show up Friday night. It's time for him to show us just how much he knows, and how much is hot air. No more hiding, Johnny boy!

We'll be waiting.

What's not to like?

Posted by: Sue | September 24, 2008 10:17 PM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Obama is not four more years of Bush like McSame.

Other than that, the rest of your post is the same garbage that comes from Steve Schmidt, the Rove employee who's working for McCain.

Like Muhammad Ali

Obama can float like a butterfly, and sting like a bee.

And McCain does not want to get embarrassed -- in front of 100 million people,

On National TV.

------------------------------------------

And McCain is Cleveland Williams.

what a wimp... !!!!

Sue, your rant is getting old. It is too bad that you didn't follow your mom's advice. Or maybe, your whole family has a personality disorder.

Unless I miss my guess, you might as well get ready for this "street punk." At least he is an intelligent "street punk" who does not believe that war is the first option. For Obama to survive southside Chicago when he was a young man, he has some skills which will definitely help him with the Republican thugs he'll see on a regular basis.

Sue, I pray for your health when Obama becomes President. You may need some blood pressure medication.

I lost a lot of respect for John McCain after the announcement today. I think it is just a political stunt and if he believe Americans will fall for it, then he is foolish and stupid.

1) He is repealing the Bush Tax Cuts of 2001 & 2003. What does that mean? It means my payroll taxes are going back up at least 40-45% (so will yours).
2) If you look on BarackObama.com, the people who are truly going to benefit from the tax cuts for the middle class are those who pay nothing into the system (on avg, the Obama plan will pay $1000 to those who pay no tax whatsoever). That is called wealth redistribution one key component of Marxism. Exactly how much will Senator Obama have to raise taxes on those making over 250,000?
3) Senator Obama will raise taxes on those making over $250,000 and who have a small business. How? Their personal income tax rate will rise to 39%. The payroll cap rate will be raised to 6.2% on employer Social Security and 6.2% employee Social Security. He will also raise the Medicare payroll cap on Small Business to 2.9%. This equates to a 54% tax rate for small business owners. It is also called wealth redistribution and a key component of Marxism.

Posted by: LeeHInAlexandria | September 24, 2008 10:11 PM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am going to try to outline this is clearly as possible with information from the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center.

If your taxable income is:

$0-$19,000 (20% of population)
You would pay $567 less under the Obama plan and $19 less under the McCain plan.

$19,000-$38,000 (20% of population)
You would pay $892 less under the Obama plan and $113 less under the McCain plan.

$38,000-$66,000 (20% of population)
You would pay $1,042 less under the Obama plan and $319 less under the McCain plan.

$66,000-$112,000 (20% of population)
You would pay $1,290 less under the Obama plan and $1,009 less under the McCain plan.

$112,000-$227,000 (15% of population)
You would pay $2,300 less under the Obama plan and $3,200 less under the McCain plan.

$227,000 and above (5% of population)
You would pay $23,000 more under the Obama plan and $15,000 less under the McCain plan.

Obama's plan would also:
not tax seniors who earn less than $50,000 per year issue a $4,000 credit per child in college issue a $500 per worker credit for those who make $150,000 a year and do not itemize change inheritance tax to 45% for those estates over $3.5 million
continue to withdraw Social Security tax on those who make over $250,000 per year, but keep the moratorium for those who earn between $102,000 and $250,000; the current tax is taken out up to $102,000

McCain's plan would also:
double dependent credit from $3,500 to $7,000.
set inheritance tax at 15% for all estates over $5 million.
cut corporate taxes from 35% to 25%
The overall impact on the federal budget is that Obama's plan returns $700 billion to the budget and John McCain's would cost $600 billion. To be fair, these figures are muddied by assumptions that we cannot make, like the cost of war, government spending and the world economy.

For comparison, here are tax bracket from 2007:

You pay 10% if you:
file as single and and your taxable income is $0 – $7,825.
file as married filing jointly or qualified widow(er) and your taxable income is $0-$15,650.
file as married filing separately and your taxable income is $0-$7,825.
file as head of household and your taxable income is $0-$11,200.

You pay 15% if you:
file as single and and your taxable income is $7,826-$31,850.
file as married filing jointly or qualified widow(er) and your taxable income is $15,651-$63,700.
file as married filing separately and your taxable income is $7,826-$31,850.
file as head of household and your taxable income is $11,201-$42,650.

You pay 25% if you:
file as single and and your taxable income is $31,851-$77,100.
file as married filing jointly or qualified widow(er) and your taxable income is $63,701-$128,500.
file as married filing separately and your taxable income is $31,851-$64,250.
file as head of household and your taxable income is $42,651-$110,100.

You pay 28% if you:
file as single and and your taxable income is $77,101-$160,850.
file as married filing jointly or qualified widow(er) and your taxable income is $128,501-$195,850.
file as married filing separately and your taxable income is $64,251-$97,925.
file as head of household and your taxable income is $110,101-$178,350.
You pay 33% if you:

file as single and and your taxable income is $160,851-$349,700.
file as married filing jointly or qualified widow(er) and your taxable income is $195,851-$349,700.
file as married filing separately and your taxable income is $97,926-$174,850.
file as head of household and your taxable income is $178,351-$349,700.

You pay 35% if you:
file as single and and your taxable income is $349,701 and above.
file as married filing jointly or qualified widow(er) and your taxable income is $349,701 and above.
file as married filing separately and your taxable income is $174,851 and above.
file as head of household and your taxable income is $349,701 and above.

An individual pays tax at a given bracket only for each dollar within that bracket's range. For example, a single taxpayer who earned $10,000 in 2007 would be taxed 10% of each dollar earned from the 1st dollar to the 7,825th dollar (10% × $7,825 = $782.50), then 15% of each dollar earned from the 7,826th dollar to the 10,000th dollar (15% × $2,175 = $326.25), for a total of $1,108.75. Notice this amount ($1,108.75) is lower than if the individual had been taxed at 15% on the full $10,000 (for a tax of $1,500). This is because the individual's marginal rate (the percentage tax on the last dollar earned, here 15%) has no effect on the income taxed at a lower bracket (here the first $7,825 of income taxed at 10%). This ensures that every rise in a person's pre-tax salary results in an increase of their after-tax salary.

Approximately 2.5 million filers fall into the top two brackets listed for 2007 out of over 100 million plus filers and only the wealthiest 5% of America's households make over $174,000 per year. Obama is certainly appealing to the masses in this case while McCain joked that you are middle class if you make less than $5 million per year (yes, this was a joke). However, while McCain ran against George Bush in the Republican primaries in 2000, he said "I don’t think the governor’s tax cut is too big–it’s just misplaced. Sixty percent of the benefits from his tax cuts go to the wealthiest 10 percent of Americans–and that’s not the kind of tax relief that Americans need. … I don’t believe the wealthiest 10 percent of Americans should get 60 percent of the tax breaks. I think the lowest 10 percent should get the breaks." He continued his objection in 2001 and 2003 when he voted against these same tax cuts before finally agreeing to pass them because he felt it would hurt the economy if tax laws were changed. Now his plan is just a continuation of these same tax laws.

I fall into the $38,000-$66,000 group.

No more gimmicks Mr McCain. We want to see who is fit to lead us. Show up and face the people or hide like your piece of monkey dung VP pick. We've had it up to our pocketbooks with government for the rich. No more. Stand and deliver or get out of the way!

Obama has been touting all week long, that this financial issue is the worst thing since the great depression.

However its not an important enough of a issue, for Obama to stop campaigning.

Can any of you Bots explain that ?

Posted by: Bishop TuTu | September 24, 2008 9:47 PM

_______________________________________

And what are they going to do when they get there? Neither one of them are on the committees involved, so the only thing they can do is wait to vote!

Please!! Stop making excuses for McCain! He want to change the terms of the game, WE'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE!

From MSNBC:

"McCain also met with the moneyed former Clinton fundraiser Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild, who recently threw her support to McCain."

Why is McCain meeting with Rothschild?

Is there a link between the Rothschild's and the current financial crisis?

Why is a 'democratic' fundraiser supporting McCain now that Hillary lost?

Could Hillary and McCain both be Neocon puppets who are dead set against losing their grip on American government?

What's going on here? Inquiring minds want to know.

>>McCain: nine days ago, the fundamentals of >>our economy are strong.

>>McCain campaign today: we could be in a >>depression by monday if this doesn't pass.

Overall, the fundamentals of the economy are strong the mortgage piece is only one piece of the puzzle. The depression will be because the Democrats have so screwed up the credit system and the financial system in this country that no one will be able to get any credit whatsoever.

You think this is bad? Wait until they get to Social Security and Medicare two bigger components of the economy (which overall is around $14 trillion dollars). Those two will be even bigger bailouts.

Look at McCain. He's a walking corpse. Classic dementia....Slurs his words, forgets little things when he was list in Washington (April), so now that the polls are looking (very) bad, instead of change, what we need is more of the old boys club fixing all this between the gin and tonics and bimbo (oh, sorry, that was Gov Palin).

McCain spends $5,000 on make-up for each TV appearance.

Dang! Comming out of the shower -- he has got to look like:

(a)...Zombie.
(b)...Night of The Living Dead.
(c)...Leprechaun.
(d)...Freddy Kruger.
(e)...The Mummy.
(f)...Dawn of the Dead.

Ewwwwwww!

This is one ugleeee dude,
shedding skin like a snake.

You can't call a mulligan in the middle of a tournament. If you're unprepared or think you're going to lose, concede defeat. That's the honorable thing to do.

Nice quote, btw.

The chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, which was holding a hearing on the bailout, added "I'm not particularly focused on Senator McCain. I guess if I wanted expertise there [from the GOP ticket], I'd ask Sarah Palin."

John McCain can't walk and chew gum at the same time.

Repeat after me: "John McCain is the weakest Republican presidential candidate since Bob Dole, and Bob Dole was a much more likeable man
=====================
posted by someone else but I like this post and thought it need to be said again.

Karl Rove has turned your paper hero McCain into a dodging COWARD! Excerpts from Sarah Palins foriegn policy swing @ the UN: "You're even cuter in Person" "I almost want to hug you" "Thank You Sweetie"
Women should be outraged. Sad day for American strength abroad.

Pathetic! The McCain campaign is imploding. As they say, "A day late and a dollar short." McCain just reacts. He is no leader. If anyone has been following Obama for any period of time now, you would know that he leads, usually out of the limelight. Apparently, McCain can only pretend to lead when he calls attention to himself.

Yes, Obama can be at the meeting tomorrow. Obama is a team player and a gentleman. Obama has the one trump card that can beat McCain's supposedly superior experience: practical intelligence. Personally, I have been very impressed with Obama's press conferences, especially since he must think quickly on his feet without the teleprompters that the Repubs always talk about.

Yes, Obama can multitask. It is ashame that both McCain and Palin demonstrate each and every day why they are not scholars. This may appeal to the average Joe, but we need brainpower on the international stage. One stooge for 8 years has been too much for me to have to suffer when I hear other world leaders sound much more presidential than our own. All we need is another President who pounds his fist and yells, "bomb, bomb, bomb," as his answer to a world crisis.

May Obama ride a wave of approval into the White House.

As Chris Dodd said tonight, Obama has been very engaged in the economic crisis and McCain has been AWOL. McCain is all show and no action. He is all cowboy and no cattle. McCain and Palin need to take a nice stroll down the Road to Nowhere after they pay the toll. What a joke!

But does Sarah Palin still get to collect her per diem while the campaign is suspended?

Obama is a Marxist puppet of Soros with very close ties to Terrorists, Racists and South Chicago Political Thugs and has a very angry Racist wife. Plus a voting record that has him voting for tax increases on everybody every chance he has ever had or taking the bold choice to vote "Present". He is a deceitful shady street punk.

What's not to like? .

This was an unusual and poorly chosen tactic by McCain. The Republicans, including uberderegulator and McCain insider Phil Gramm, let the economy tank and Wall Street pig out, made a mess, and now pretend that poor old man McCain can't meet for an hour and debate foreign policy for the position of, yes, President of the United States? Let's face it: if he and Bush cooked this up in a phone call, we're talking Dumb and Dumberer. He handed Obama a huge gift. Checkmated himself into his own scaredy-hole. Thanks, McNasty!

McCain: nine days ago, the fundamentals of our economy are strong.

McCain campaign today: we could be in a depression by monday if this doesn't pass.

Incredible.

And by the way, did you see the Palin interview with Katie Couric.

I mean, people. Please. This woman cannot put a coherent sentence together. It was squirm-inducing watching her, she appeared so airheaded. I just can't even fathom the notion of this woman being a heartbeat away.

Even if McCain suspended his campaign, he legally cannot control any of the 527 groups that support him. They could continue running political commercials and ads for him.

It is just one big sham.

chicken sh*t McCain and his puppet from Alaska who know absolutely enough economics to run a lemonade stand won't debate. That should tell you something: HE IS UNFIT and INCAPABLE to be president.

LeeHInAlexandria and his kind are showing a fine example of the state of the republican faithful, even though I don't suppose that is their intention.

They're dragging out all the old "hate democrats" reasons used throughout history, they're lifting garbage from rush limbaugh and directly channeling fox ... they have run out of anything they can say FOR McCain, all they have left is bashing the opponent.

These are the kind of people McCain is counting on to carry him to the whitehouse, the same kind of people who brought us George Bush and 12 years of uninterrupted republican control of the congress.

That's too bad.

200lbs of pressure per square inch. The only pit bull I see is Obama, taken a bite out of McChicken sandwhich.

McCain is grandstanding again, aided and abetted by Bush. Another shameful stunt by a disorganized, hotheaded, unqualified, out-of-touch old man. He did the same thing with the fake Georgia crisis. He probably stops at car accidents to hold a press conference and take charge. Lame!

And yea "concerned citizen" - Obama DOES know what real work is. He has done more work and thinking just today than you have done in your entire lifetime.

Also, do you have any idea how long this debate takes? Do you seriously think not having the debate will help? If one night could solve this problem, why didn't your hero G.W. have this puppy whipped already?

Tell us how you come to the conclusion that Obama is a Marxist? Before we became a socialist country under this REPUBLICAN administration, republiCON pukes like you were calling Obama a Socialist.

But before you answer that question, tell us all why John McSame doesn't have the "nads" to debate Obama? Is he too tired? Has his thought process grown slower with old age? If McCain can't perform more than one task while running, he can't be president.

Posted by: AugustWest1 | September 24, 2008 10:02 PM

1) He is repealing the Bush Tax Cuts of 2001 & 2003. What does that mean? It means my payroll taxes are going back up at least 40-45% (so will yours).
2) If you look on BarackObama.com, the people who are truly going to benefit from the tax cuts for the middle class are those who pay nothing into the system (on avg, the Obama plan will pay $1000 to those who pay no tax whatsoever). That is called wealth redistribution one key component of Marxism. Exactly how much will Senator Obama have to raise taxes on those making over 250,000?
3) Senator Obama will raise taxes on those making over $250,000 and who have a small business. How? Their personal income tax rate will rise to 39%. The payroll cap rate will be raised to 6.2% on employer Social Security and 6.2% employee Social Security. He will also raise the Medicare payroll cap on Small Business to 2.9%. This equates to a 54% tax rate for small business owners. It is also called wealth redistribution and a key component of Marxism.

Remember when George F Will said "McCain has lost his head?"

Well, if you find it please PUNT it back to the Mississippi debates on Friday.

Here is the real reason McCain is running scared:

In a world exclusive The NATIONAL ENQUIRER names GOP VP Candidate Sarah Palin's secret lover!

No less than three members of the man’s family including one by sworn affidavit have claimed that Sarah Palin engaged in an extramarital affair with hus¬band Todd’s former business partner, Brad Hanson.

These sources have named Hanson as Palin’s secret love, and say their affair nearly wrecked both their marriages.

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/national_enquirer_world_exclusive_sarah_palins_secret_lover_revealed/celebrity/65481

Anyone for chicken? McShame size it please

Mccain can not suspend his campain, the campain is on and will be until the election. Mccain actions are just the product of campain strategy however poorly thought of.

McCain is pulling stunts. A classic strategy when you are weak. I think the truth is he is running out of money, Palin is not ready to debate Biden next week, and McCain wants to look like the Knight in shining armor.

The truth is he is a knight-errant...a wanderer looking for adventures to prove himself.

McCain = McSame.

Well said, Obama! Don't let the cheap trick get played by McCain or his people. It's not like McCain adds anything noteworthy to the conversation since he does not understand the economy. Heck, Phil Gramm, McCain's then-chief economic advisor, called it a "mental recession" and the American people have become "a nation of whiners."

So McCain, save the jet fuel and keep hitting the hustings. You might learn something from the future President Barack Hussein Obama!

Obama lost my vote

Posted by: Jack McCabe | September 24, 2008 9:56 PM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And "Chicken John" lost my respect, and my vote.

McCain is pulling a political STUNT! That's all it is! He can't take out an 3 hours to debate (Travel time included)? What is he going to bring to the table? He's NOT on the Finance or Banking Committees! He REALLY NEEDS TO QUIT!! And why does everybody think that McCain gets to call the shots on Obama's campaign? Not to mention that Obama called him first!!

I guess McCain didn't do his homework and study for his debate. He had to call George and see if uncle Dick would arrange a meeting to delay the debate. Can McCain get anymore pathetic? Probably not. As we will see in the next month, nothing is too low for McCain. Why don't you bring up being a POW...wait, he has tried that a million times. Too bad your fellow POWs think you would make a horrible president.

Where did McCant get all this Economic Wisdom from, anyhow? I thought he was , again for the umpteenth time,quoted a week aga sayin" i Dont have a solid grasp of ECONOMIC matters, but I will get the best and the brightest to help me figur it out" i guess that means all those lobbyists on his payroll will be going along with him too.
Bush is out of his mind if he thinks Anyone in this country TRUSTS him to oversee 700 billion Bailout, even if it is for only a few months.I think article 1 of the proposal should be to arrest, and hold WITHOUT BOND all of the CEO's, EXECUTIVES, and supposed MANAGERS of this debacle, and hold them accountable for their Crimes.
Unfortunately, Bush would be among them ,so it would be a Hard act to get anything past CHENEY, who im sure has had more than a hand in on this mess.

Swap the Friday Pres debate with the VP debate. Let's see who's really ready to lead with Biden and Palin on Friday.

So Obama is still putting politics first. He is showing the American public that it is Obama first, the rest of us be damned. Push the debate and forget about this mess. I guess that when we have a foreign policy crisis, he will ask to debate the opposite head of state. Does this man have any clue how the world works? Does he know what work is about?

Posted by: Concerned Citizen | September 24, 2008 10:00 PM
------------------------
So if Obama and McCain spend an hour or two debating their approaches to this issue on Friday, the crisis will get worse? Do you really believe this?

Let's see McCain began an affair with his sugar momma Cindy while his first wife's health was failing and in a wheelchair. She waited for and supported him while in Vietnam. Deserted his children and married Cindy without getting the divorce first. Real Moral values & compassion. Speaks well of you conservative religious wingnuts and your commitment to the teachings of the Bible. Could'nt have suspended his campaign monday while the fundamentals of our economy was strong heh? You don't need any of the 700 BILLION? I guess. We get absolutely NOTHING!

I played hookie a few times in college when I was *UNPREPARED* for the next day's challenges... BUT -- I was 20 years old, not trying to run a country in dire trouble, and ONE DAY, I actually grew up.

This is despicable, pandering, and cowardly behavior that just further proves that it's not just Palin sho is NOT READY to lead...

Well, my friends I may not know jack about the economy and I damn sure don't have a clue what we're going to do with this so called financial melt down, because as you know I maintain the economy is still fundamentally sound. Just ask Phil Gramm. But I really need to get out of that debate Friday nite, so I pulled a fast one on Barack. Don't you love it, my friends?

Obama is a Marxist. He will destroy this country even further. You think this crisis is bad? Wait until they have to bail out Social Security and Medicare (Government run health care). Only a fool would vote Obama.

Posted by: LeeHInAlexandria | September 24, 2008 9:51 PM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tell us how you come to the conclusion that Obama is a Marxist? Before we became a socialist country under this REPUBLICAN administration, republiCON pukes like you were calling Obama a Socialist.

But before you answer that question, tell us all why John McSame doesn't have the "nads" to debate Obama? Is he too tired? Has his thought process grown slower with old age? If McCain can't perform more than one task while running, he can't be president.

Like Muhammad Ali

Obama can float like a butterfly, and sting like a bee.

And McCain does not want to get embarrassed -- in front of 100 million people,

On National TV.

After reading most of these comments, it amazes me that no one is remembering about McCain being involved in the SNL scandal. The Keating 5. A leopard cannot change its spots, Mr. McCain, no matter how hard it tries.

Why isn't the Obama camp bringing up Keating 5, especially now?

little John doesn't want to have

his pants pulled down around his ankles

in public...

he's got some "serious shrinkage" about meeting O ba ba man

in public, to talk about "his work," and the result of backing bush...

and having the bush kampe working for him....

bush is John McCain, they share a brain or another way of putting is is

they each have half of a diseased brain...

together they make a totally diseased team.....

your country is proof....look around, corruption walks talks and just gave a wooden speech

telling you that "the dog ate my country."

"it's not my fault," "it just happened."

it just happened on REagans and George H.W.'s stint too....

it's call CORRUPTION

foad

Next thing you know they'll want to delay the VP debates too...Oops! Too late.. they're calling for that too now.

What a political stunt by McCain. No need to suspend his campaign, it's already self-destructing.

What gall! Has anyone asked for his assistance? Has the Senate put out an SOS call for McCain? Is our whole government and economy dependent on one of the Senators from Arizona? I had no idea.
Since he's Superman, why didn't suspend his campaign to go fend off the hurricanes?

The only thing that is fundamentally strong is the Obama campaign!

Soon the grumpy old man who can't remember how many houses he owns and his Homecoming Queen VP pick will soon be a fading memory, thank God!

So Obama is still putting politics first. He is showing the American public that it is Obama first, the rest of us be damned. Push the debate and forget about this mess. I guess that when we have a foreign policy crisis, he will ask to debate the opposite head of state. Does this man have any clue how the world works? Does he know what work is about?

Look on the bright side. If you elect 72 year old John McCain, White House interns of both genders will likely go unmolested (and intelligence briefings will likely go unread).

Let the financial institutions crumble.

Let the American people see the truth. We are in a Greater Depression. It amazes me that all the analysts and politicians can openly cloud the minds of the people. Americans need to tighten their belts and stop being so wasteful. We are broke,poor and the dollar is worth notebook paper. Put away the plastic and get a second job.

NOW this is a "crisis" McShame? I thought the fundamentals of the economy were strong? your words - last week.

You just don't have what it takes.

Oh, BTW some peers of yours are in town from Fl talking about Carol and their disgust with you over the way you left her.

Then the subject turned to Wall Street and your connection to it. It seems they want their money back... They're all meeting in DC.

Overheard at the Marine Corps League.

One more time from the good SENATOR Obama: PRESENT!

Here is why McCain wants out:

In a world exclusive The NATIONAL ENQUIRER names GOP VP Candidate Sarah Palin's secret lover!

No less than three members of the man’s family including one by sworn affidavit have claimed that Sarah Palin engaged in an extramarital affair with hus¬band Todd’s former business partner, Brad Hanson.

These sources have named Hanson as Palin’s secret love, and say their affair nearly wrecked both their marriages.

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/national_enquirer_world_exclusive_sarah_palins_secret_lover_revealed/celebrity/65481

Obama lost my vote

Anyone who thinks McCain is putting country first needs therapy. China is going to put up the 700 billion. So we won't be able to complain about lead paint in our toys, or poison in our food, expansion of China's ICBM nuclear warheads. The trampling of human rights. Copyright infrigement, peddling of weapons on the Black Market, etc. We'll be afraid to say anything because they own us. Country first my A$$!

Posted by: Martin | September 24, 2008 9:52 PM

Martin has a point about China. If you haven't seen the movie I.O.U.SA yet, this should be on everyone's to do list. Visit iousathemovie.com for more.

Let Obama debate himself. He's used to taking both sides on every issue.

Posted by: WylieD | September 24, 2008 9:36 PM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kudos to KevinSchmidt for the bulk of these.

* McCain said the fundamentals of the economy were sound, but changed his mind.

* McCain chose a Veep who let her husband Todd (member of the Alaska Independence Party) make most of the decisions for her. She is a risk to National Security and should NOT receive a security clearance.

* McCain actively talked about bringing back the jobs in America then he told us that the jobs in Detroit are NEVER coming back?

* McCain said before the war in Iraq, “We will win this conflict. We will win it easily.” Four years later, McCain said he knew all along that the war in Iraq war was “probably going to be long and hard and tough.”

* McCain said he was the “greatest critic” of Rumsfeld’s failed Iraq policy. In December 2003, McCain praised the same strategy as “a mission accomplished.” In March 2004, he said, “I’m confident we’re on the right course.” In December 2005, he said, “Overall, I think a year from now, we will have made a fair amount of progress if we stay the course.”

* McCain went from saying he would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade to saying the exact opposite.

* McCain went from saying gay marriage should be allowed, to saying gay marriage shouldn’t be allowed.

* McCain criticized TV preacher Jerry Falwell as “an agent of intolerance” in 2002, but then decided to cozy up to the man who said Americans “deserved” the 9/11 attacks.

* McCain used to oppose Bush’s tax cuts for the very wealthy, but he reversed course in February.

* On a related note, he said 2005 that he opposed the tax cuts because they were “too tilted to the wealthy.” By 2007, he denied ever having said this, and insisted he opposed the cuts because of increased government spending.

* In 2000, McCain accused Texas businessmen Sam and Charles Wyly of being corrupt, spending “dirty money” to help finance Bush’s presidential campaign. McCain not only filed a complaint against the Wylys for allegedly violating campaign finance law, he also lashed out at them publicly. In April, McCain reached out to the Wylys for support.

* McCain supported a major campaign-finance reform measure that bore his name. In June 2007, he abandoned his own legislation.

* McCain opposed a holiday to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., before he supported it.

* McCain was against presidential candidates campaigning at Bob Jones University before he was for it.

* McCain was anti-ethanol. Now he’s pro-ethanol.

* McCain was both for and against state promotion of the Confederate flag.

* McCain supported the drilling moratorium; now he’s against it.

* McCain strongly opposes a windfall-tax on oil company profits. Three weeks earlier, he was perfectly comfortable with the idea.

* McCain thought Bush’s warrantless-wiretap program circumvented the law; now he believes the opposite.

* McCain defended “privatizing” Social Security. Now he says he’s against privatization (though he actually still supports it.)

* McCain wanted to change the Republican Party platform to protect abortion rights in cases of rape and incest. Now he doesn’t.

* McCain thought the estate tax was perfectly fair. Now he believes the opposite.

* He opposed indefinite detention of terrorist suspects. When the Supreme Court reached the same conclusion, he called it “one of the worst decisions in the history of this country.”

* McCain said he would “not impose a litmus test on any nominee.” He used to promise the opposite.

And these come after these other reversals from April and May:

* McCain believes the telecoms should be forced to explain their role in the administration’s warrantless surveillance program as a condition for retroactive immunity. He used to believe the opposite.

* McCain supported storing spent nuclear fuel at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Now he believes the opposite.

* McCain supported moving “towards normalization of relations” with Cuba. Now he believes the opposite.

* McCain believed the U.S. should engage in diplomacy with Hamas. Now he believes the opposite.

* McCain believed the U.S. should engage in diplomacy with Syria. Now he believes the opposite.

* He argued the NRA should not have a role in the Republican Party’s policy making. Now he believes the opposite.

* McCain supported his own lobbying-reform legislation from 1997. Now he doesn’t.

* He wanted political support from radical televangelists like John Hagee and Rod Parsley. Now he doesn’t.

* McCain supported the Lieberman/Warner legislation to combat global warming. Now he doesn’t.

And these are the flip-flops I’ve noticed earlier:

* McCain pledged in February 2008 that he would not, under any circumstances, raise taxes. Specifically, McCain was asked if he is a “‘read my lips’ candidate, no new taxes, no matter what?” referring to George H.W. Bush’s 1988 pledge. “No new taxes,” McCain responded. Two weeks later, McCain said, “I’m not making a ‘read my lips’ statement, in that I will not raise taxes.”

* McCain is both for and against a “rogue state rollback” as a focus of his foreign policy vision.

* McCain says he considered and did not consider joining John Kerry’s Democratic ticket in 2004.

* In 1998, he championed raising cigarette taxes to fund programs to cut underage smoking, insisting that it would prevent illnesses and provide resources for public health programs. Now, McCain opposes a $0.61-per-pack tax increase, won’t commit to supporting a regulation bill he’s co-sponsoring, and has hired Philip Morris’ former lobbyist as his senior campaign adviser.

* McCain has changed his economic worldview on multiple occasions.

* McCain has changed his mind about a long-term U.S. military presence in Iraq on multiple occasions.

* McCain is both for and against attacking Barack Obama over his former pastor at his former church.

* McCain believes Americans are both better and worse off than they were before Bush took office.

* McCain is both for and against earmarks for Arizona.

* McCain believes his endorsement from radical televangelist John Hagee was both a good and bad idea.

* McCain’s first mortgage plan was premised on the notion that homeowners facing foreclosure shouldn’t be “rewarded” for acting “irresponsibly.” His second mortgage plan took largely the opposite position.

* McCain vowed, if elected, to balance the federal budget by the end of his first term. Soon after, he decided he would no longer even try to reach that goal.

* In February 2008, McCain reversed course on prohibiting waterboarding.

* McCain used to champion the Law of the Sea convention, even volunteering to testify on the treaty’s behalf before a Senate committee. Now he opposes it.

* McCain was a co-sponsor of the DREAM Act, which would grant legal status to illegal immigrants’ kids who graduate from high school. Now he’s against it.

* On immigration policy in general, McCain announced in February 2008 that he would vote against his own legislation.

* In 2006, McCain sponsored legislation to require grassroots lobbying coalitions to reveal their financial donors. In 2007, after receiving “feedback” on the proposal, McCain told far-right activist groups that he opposes his own measure.

* McCain thought Bush's warrantless wiretap program circumvented the law; now he believes the opposite.

* McCain insisted that everyone, even "terrible killers," "the worst kind of scum of humanity," and detainees at Guantanamo Bay, "deserve to have some adjudication of their cases," even if that means "releasing some of them." McCain now believes the opposite.

* He opposed indefinite detention of terrorist suspects. When the Supreme Court reached the same conclusion, he called it "one of the worst decisions in the history of this country."

* In February, McCain reversed course on prohibiting waterboarding.

* McCain favored closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay before he was against it.

* When Barack Obama talked about going after terrorists in Pakistani mountains with Predators, McCain criticized him for it. He's since come to the opposite conclusion.

Foreign Policy

* McCain was for kicking Russia out of the G8 before he was against it.

* McCain supported moving "toward normalization of relations" with Cuba. Now he believes the opposite.

* McCain believed the United States should engage in diplomacy with Hamas. Now he believes the opposite.

* McCain believed the United States should engage in diplomacy with Syria. Now he believes the opposite.

* McCain is both for and against a "rogue state rollback" as a focus of his foreign policy vision.

* McCain used to champion the Law of the Sea convention, even volunteering to testify on the treaty's behalf before a Senate committee. Now he opposes it.

* McCain was against divestment from South Africa before he was for it.

Military Policy

* McCain recently claimed that he was the "greatest critic" of Rumsfeld's failed Iraq policy. In December 2003, McCain praised the same strategy as "a mission accomplished." In March 2004, he said, "I'm confident we're on the right course." In December 2005, he said, "Overall, I think a year from now, we will have made a fair amount of progress if we stay the course."

* McCain has changed his mind about a long-term U.S. military presence in Iraq on multiple occasions, concluding, on multiple occasions, that a Korea-like presence is both a good idea and a bad idea.

* McCain said before the war in Iraq, "We will win this conflict. We will win it easily." Four years later, McCain said he knew all along that the war in Iraq war was "probably going to be long and hard and tough."

* McCain has repeatedly said it's a dangerous mistake to tell the "enemy" when U.S. troops would be out of Iraq. In May, McCain announced that most American troops would be home from Iraq by 2013.

* McCain was against expanding the GI Bill before he was for it.

Domestic Policy

* McCain defended "privatizing" Social Security. Now he says he's against privatization (though he actually still supports it.)

* McCain wanted to change the Republican Party platform to protect abortion rights in cases of rape and incest. Now he doesn't.

* McCain supported storing spent nuclear fuel at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Now he believes the opposite.

* He argued that the NRA should not have a role in the Republican Party's policy making. Now he believes the opposite.

* In 1998, he championed raising cigarette taxes to fund programs to cut underage smoking, insisting that it would prevent illnesses and provide resources for public health programs. Now, McCain opposes a $0.61-per-pack tax increase, won't commit to supporting a regulation bill he's co-sponsoring, and has hired Philip Morris' former lobbyist as his senior campaign adviser.

* McCain is both for and against earmarks for Arizona.

* McCain's first mortgage plan was premised on the notion that homeowners facing foreclosure shouldn't be "rewarded" for acting "irresponsibly." His second mortgage plan took largely the opposite position.

* McCain went from saying gay marriage should be allowed, to saying gay marriage shouldn't be allowed.

* McCain opposed a holiday to honor Martin Luther King Jr. before he supported it.

* McCain was anti-ethanol. Now he's pro-ethanol.

* McCain was both for and against state promotion of the Confederate flag.

* In 2005, McCain endorsed intelligent design creationism, a year later he said the opposite, and a few months after that, he was both for and against creationism at the same time.

Economic Policy

* McCain was against Bush's tax cuts for the very wealthy before he was for them.

* John McCain initially argued that economics is not an area of expertise for him, saying, "I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues; I still need to be educated," and "The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should." He now falsely denies ever having made these remarks and insists that he has a "very strong" understanding of economics.

* McCain vowed, if elected, to balance the federal budget by the end of his first term. Soon after, he decided he would no longer even try to reach that goal. And soon after that, McCain abandoned his second position and went back to his first.

* McCain said in 2005 that he opposed the tax cuts because they were "too tilted to the wealthy." By 2007, he denied ever having said this, and falsely argued that he opposed the cuts because of increased government spending.

* McCain thought the estate tax was perfectly fair. Now he believes the opposite.

* McCain pledged in February 2008 that he would not, under any circumstances, raise taxes. Specifically, McCain was asked if he is a "'read my lips' candidate, no new taxes, no matter what?" referring to George H.W. Bush's 1988 pledge. "No new taxes," McCain responded. Two weeks later, McCain said, "I'm not making a 'read my lips' statement, in that I will not raise taxes."

* McCain has changed his entire economic worldview on multiple occasions.

* McCain believes Americans are both better and worse off economically than they were before Bush took office.

Energy Policy

* McCain supported the moratorium on coastal drilling; now he's against it.

* McCain recently announced his strong opposition to a windfall tax on oil company profits. Three weeks earlier, he was perfectly comfortable with the idea.

* McCain endorsed a cap-and-trade policy with a mandatory emissions cap. In mid-June, McCain announced he wants the caps to be voluntary.

* McCain explained his belief that a temporary suspension of the federal gas tax would provide an immediate economic stimulus. Shortly thereafter, he argued the exact opposite.

* McCain supported the Lieberman/Warner legislation to combat global warming. Now he doesn't.

Immigration Policy

* McCain was a co-sponsor of the DREAM Act, which would grant legal status to illegal immigrants' kids who graduate from high school. Now he's against it.

* On immigration policy in general, McCain announced in February 2008 that he would vote against his own bill.

* In April, McCain promised voters that he would secure the borders "before proceeding to other reform measures." Two months later, he abandoned his public pledge, pretended that he'd never made the promise in the first place, and vowed that a comprehensive immigration reform policy has always been, and would always be, his "top priority."

Judicial Policy and the Rule of Law

* McCain said he would "not impose a litmus test on any nominee." He used to promise the opposite.

* McCain believes the telecoms should be forced to explain their role in the administration's warrantless surveillance program as a condition for retroactive immunity. He used to believe the opposite.

* McCain went from saying he would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade to saying the exact opposite.

Campaign, Ethics, and Lobbying Reform

* McCain supported his own lobbying-reform legislation from 1997. Now he doesn't.

* In 2006, McCain sponsored legislation to require grassroots lobbying coalitions to reveal their financial donors. In 2007, after receiving "feedback" on the proposal, McCain told far-right activist groups that he opposes his own measure.

* McCain supported a campaign-finance bill, which bore his name, on strengthening the public-financing system. In June 2007, he abandoned his own legislation.

Politics and Associations

* McCain wanted political support from radical televangelist John Hagee. Now he doesn't.

* McCain wanted political support from radical televangelist Rod Parsley. Now he doesn't.

* McCain says he considered and did not consider joining John Kerry's Democratic ticket in 2004.

* McCain is both for and against attacking Barack Obama over his former pastor at his former church.

* McCain criticized TV preacher Jerry Falwell as "an agent of intolerance" in 2002, but then decided to cozy up to the man who said Americans "deserved" the 9/11 attacks.

* In 2000, McCain accused Texas businessmen Sam and Charles Wyly of being corrupt, spending "dirty money" to help finance Bush's presidential campaign. McCain not only filed a complaint against the Wylys for allegedly violating campaign finance law, he also lashed out at them publicly. In April, McCain reached out to the Wylys for support.

* McCain was against presidential candidates campaigning at Bob Jones University before he was for it.

* McCain decided in 2000 that he didn't want anything to do with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, believing he "would taint the image of the 'Straight Talk Express.'" Kissinger is now the honorary co-chair for his presidential campaign in New York.

* McCain believed powerful right-wing activist/lobbyist Grover Norquist was "corrupt, a shill for dictators, and (with just a dose of sarcasm) Jack Abramoff's gay lover." McCain now considers Norquist a key political ally.

Obama isn't needed in Congress. He isn't a senior senator and has no record or clue on how to work bipartisan.

McCain is a senior senator of his party and is a central figure in bipartisan efforts. His presence is needed in Congress right now in a way Obama's is not useful.

"McCain Calls for Debate Delay to Focus on Financial Crisis"

You gotta love that title. Anybody who isn't sucking McCain's little guy, from part of the republicans through the center, all the way to the lunatic obama fringe - all of us can that McCain is calling for a delay on the debates because we wouldn't bother with the original focus of this debate, foreign policy.

No, McCain doesn't want to stand in front of America and be assaulted by the intense anger we all feel at his party and his president.

McCain is is on a negative slope, accelerating.

NEOCON BOY TOY McCain, we are not going to let you get away with ANYTHING. Do us all a favor and resign your senate seat to spare the shame to the good citizens of Arizona.

I know John McCain doesn't want to talk about it, but what was the deal with him and Charles Keating during the last big bailout? Didn't the bailout get done, and wasn't McCain investigated by the Senate Ethics Committee?

Was he cleared?

Up is Down, Down is Up. The Republicans, the party of personal responsiblity, the party of trickle down economics, are pushing to tax the common-man for $700 Billion to pay for the financial irresponsibility of a few. Imagine if it were the democrats asking for $700 Billion to pay for education or health care or transportation for the porrest Americans. Bloody Murder!!!!

No to the Bailout! No to 4 more years of the same policies and politics that got us into this mess. Say no to the Fossil and Beauty Queen!!

Why would John McCain need to "suspend" his campaign when he is in Washington as a US Senator to address the bailout proposal?

He has a running mate, Sarah Palin, on his ticket who is supposedly ready on day one to take over, if necessary. Why can't she step in and take over campaigning while he is in DC?

Apparently, John McCain doesn't even believe Sarah Palin is qualified.

Anyone who thinks McCain is putting country first needs therapy. China is going to put up the 700 billion. So we won't be able to complain about lead paint in our toys, or poison in our food, expansion of China's ICBM nuclear warheads. The trampling of human rights. Copyright infrigement, peddling of weapons on the Black Market, etc. We'll be afraid to say anything because they own us. Country first my A$$!

Let hussein debate himself!

Put him onstage in his Styrofoam Greek Temple and let him talk and talk and talk - about the one he loves most - himself of course - and the major issues. Since his flop-flops and endless doubletalk has put him ON BOTH SIDES OF EVERY MAJOR ISSUE, that should be quite an interesting and lively debate.

Here are some of the debate topics:

I will take public financing for my campaign-----I will NOT take public financing for my campaign.
Clinton's NAFTA is BAD-----Just kidding, NAFTA is GREAT.
I will get the troops home immediately-----I will NOT get the troops home immediately.
"I could no more disown him (rev. wright) than I could disown my ... grandmother."-----I DISOWN rev wright. (Look out grandma, you may be next!).
I support total gun control-----I do NOT support total gun control.
NO on offshore drilling-----YES on offshore drilling.
End bush tax-cuts for the rich-----Well, maybe NOT.
The surge is BAD-----The surge is GOOD
NO on tapping the strategic oil reserve-----YES on tapping the strategic oil reserve.
I don't need no stinkin' flag pin-----I NOW WEAR a flag pin since I'm now patriotic (wink, wink)!
No immunity for illegal wiretapping telcos-----I vote YES on Bush's immunity for illegal wiretapping telcos.
To people in rural Pennsylvania: "I'm one of you"-----To people in San Francisco: those rural types are "bitter people clinging to their guns and religion".

Then the American people will see what a shallow, arrogant, platitude-spouting, inexperienced, elitist, drug-addicted, narcissistic, flip-flopping gas-bag the d-crats are trying to foist on them!

LeeHInAlexandria,

This is what we call a political stunt that McShame is pulling.

OBAMA ROCKS!!! Rock the Vote!!! OBAMA OBAMA
OBAMA OBAMA

Let's change the world, these views.

Can we get your vote?

Posted by: jd | September 24, 2008 9:47 PM

Obama is a Marxist. He will destroy this country even further. You think this crisis is bad? Wait until they have to bail out Social Security and Medicare (Government run health care). Only a fool would vote Obama.

My motherinlaw suggested that Obama magnamously withdraw from the Friday debate and have Biden debate with Palin in that time slot.

VP's always have to be ready to step in the shoes of the President.

Help!

I'm John McCain and I approved this message.

Hey, fellow Americans. Please see my previous post and do the RESEARCH. I promise you, there is a rat in all this bailout.

Confusion hides sin. My previous post provides the trail.

Any journalists here tonight????

Repeat after me: "John McCain is the weakest Republican presidential candidate since Bob Dole, and Bob Dole was a much more likeable man."

A light from CBO! Bailout Bad Idea?

Hey FBI, RESEARCH THIS - These are the rats I sniffed out!

THIS IS AN ASSET GRAB, and we are being asked to finance it.

Go here to read how foreclosed homes can be purchased by towns and faith
based non-profits for $1

http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/reo/goodn/dhmabout.cfm

Is the $700 Billion bundle really bad news? It probably has many duplicated assets.

The mortgage transfer orgasm happened electronically via MERS.

Mortgage Electronic Regisration Systems is the holder of many foreclosed properties
listed in your local newspapers. That's how I learned about MERS.

While your at it,
notice how the MERS rules
for each state
"How to Handle a MERS Foreclosure"
were written in 1999,
the year Phil Gramm
changed the rules and
opened the floodgates
of unregulated capital.

http://www.mersinc.org/Foreclosures/index.aspx

WHY IS IT NO ONE EVER LISTENS WHEN THE TRUTH IS SCREAMING:

HERE IT IS!!

If McCain was really putting "Country First" he would not have embraced those very same policies that got us into this mess to begin with. [ Like deregulating the banking industry. ]

Posted by: wolf | September 24, 2008 9:43 PM

The reason why we're in this mess is the uber-regulation of the banking industry. Do yourself a favor and google the 'Community Reinvestment Act'. In short, this was an act passed in 1977 by Carter then uber-enforced in 1995 under President Clinton. Under threat of lawsuits, the Clinton Administration essentially forced the banks to begin giving homes to people who couldn't afford them.

The repeal of the Glass-Steagall act in 2000 was a deregulation bill aimed at allowing banks whose credit lines had dried up to merge with other institutions over this mess.

Do yourself a favor and look stuff up before you make accusations.

LeeHInAlexandria,

This is what we call a political stunt that McShame is pulling.

OBAMA ROCKS!!! Rock the Vote!!! OBAMA OBAMA
OBAMA OBAMA

Let's change the world, these views.

Can we get your vote?

Well this shows McCain Partisan approach and more excuses to run from scrutiny.

The partisan? The insistence by Bush administration that its our way or the highway.

Scrutiny? Running from Presidential debate. After all he is not in charge of anything in this area yet. So the only crisis is the pushing through of the Bush plan without any chance of oversight allowed. Let alone think about people with incomes less than $250 000

Palin has avoided Press Conferences. I wonder what excuse they are going to come up with for her to avoid debates.

I did expect McCain would at least turn up to the Presidential debates. Not try and run the other way. After all he was a POW

McCain's rashness, always a concern, is truly frightening.

When Russia invaded Georgia, McCain rushed to rattle sabers.

When it appeared Barack Obama had done well at his convention, his response was to throw the ultimate hail mary pass and chose the deeply unqualified and unprepared Sarah Palin.

His response to this crisis? Fire the head of the SEC – in the middle of the crisis.

Now? He suspends his campaign and postpones the debate.

How would you like four years of this?

George Will, of all people, nailed it:

McCain is "behaving like a flustered rookie playing in a league too high."

The Wall Street Journal, one of the most conservative voices in America, editorialized McCain as "untethered."

Obama's response? Mature, reasoned, calming:

“It’s my belief that this is exactly the time the American people need to hear from the person who in approximately 40 days will be responsible with dealing with this mess," he said. "In my mind, actually, it's more important than ever that we present ourselves to the American people and try to describe where we want to take the country and where we wnt to take the economy as well as dealing with some of the issues of foreign policy that were initially the subject of the debate."

Obama has been touting all week long, that this financial issue is the worst thing since the great depression.

However its not an important enough of a issue, for Obama to stop campaigning.

Can any of you Bots explain that ?

Rick Davis threw another "Flash Bang Grenade" I told you in previous posts that he would do this. Here is the reason for todays grenade.

NEW YORK TIMES 9/24/08

"...The disclosure undercuts a remark by Mr. McCain on Sunday night that the campaign manager, Rick Davis, had had no involvement with the company for the last several years...

"....As president of the Homeownership Alliance, Mr. Davis received $30,000 to $35,000 a month. He, along with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, have characterized the alliance as a coalition of many housing industry and consumer groups to promote homeownership, but numerous current and former officials at both companies say the companies created and bankrolled the operation to combat efforts by competitors to rein in their business. The companies dissolved the group at the end of 2005 as part of cost-cutting in the wake of accounting scandals and, at Freddie Mac, a lobbying scandal that forced out its top Republican lobbyist....

On Monday, the McCain campaign attacked The Times for its account of those payments to Mr. Davis, saying the paper was “150 percent in the tank” for Mr. Obama. Mr. Davis said that he had worked not for the two companies but for the advocacy group, which included other organizations as well and, he said, was focused only on promoting homeownership....

..After the Homeownership Alliance was dissolved, Mr. Davis asked to stay on a retainer, the people familiar with the deal said. Hollis McLoughlin, who was chief of staff to Richard F. Syron, Freddie Mac’s chief executive, arranged for a new contract with Davis Manafort at the reduced rate of $15,000 a month, they said..."

The unintended victim is...well, remember George F. Will's comment "McCain has lost his head"

How un-original! Mcain now has Bush doing his dirty work!!!! How low will this man go? Just a plain user and an unworthy choice for leadership!

I think I've figured this out. John McCain - son and grandson of admirals - graduated 5'th from the bottom at the US Naval Academy because....

Between 1954 and 1958, that outfit was overrun by leftist Zumwalts, who punished honorable McCains for diligent service.

Besides, McCain was busy during those years encouraging "abstinence only" education.

If McCain was really putting "Country First" he would not have embraced those very same policies that got us into this mess to begin with. [ Like deregulating the banking industry. ]

Neither McCain or Palin are ready nor informed enough to handle a prime-time debate.
Since McCain's announcement of "suspending the campaign" didn't do the trick to get the debate canceled, George Bush has now personally invited Obama to try to lure him away from the campaign and debates.
THE VOTERS NEED TO HEAR THE DEBATES. THIS IS A CRUCIAL ELECTION.

This 'Anonymous' post must be from an 'I hate America' Obama supporter.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 24, 2008 9:31 PM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You really hate yourself and this country, don't you. Imagine, posting garbage and then trashing yourself.

You're an idiot!

I never thought McCain would cut and run.

It's just a debate and I guess his staff of writers can't get him ready in time.

As we have lost 3 million high-paying jobs, 1 million homes ( this year ) to foreclosure, and an economy straddled with war debts... it completely surprises me why the imperative on the economy is "all of a sudden so dire".

It's only dire, because now it effects them and their friends.

The chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, which was holding a hearing on the bailout, added "I'm not particularly focused on Senator McCain. I guess if I wanted expertise there [from the GOP ticket], I'd ask Sarah Palin."

Posted by: gumagay | September 24, 2008 9:36 PM

Rep. Frank, who is a Democrat said that and he is one of the real culprits. The Republicans (President Bush included) have tried to institute some real reforms covering the Community Reinvestment Act since 2003 and Barney Frank has helped block it since saying the Republicans "shouldn't exaggerate the problem". Well, it is a problem now isn't it?

No vote mccain waits until this wallstreet crisis then he wants to vote and on top of that hes trying to look like hes having to drag Obama in to vote to,Very clever but not clever enough.Obama/Biden08

I shudder to think what would come of our economy were John McCain to continue campaigning.

Anonymous, you really ought to explain how McCain graduating near the bottom of the class in the Naval Academy in 1958 demonstrates a "country first" orientation. I'd venture to guess it demonstrates a "me first" orientation, but I'm just a liberal democrat, what do I know?

All watch as the Queen and King of the democratic myrmidons allow this country and it's citizens to plunge into the abyss in order to cease power. They will stop at nothing...nor will their "candidate". The man who was not there... who doesn't exist. Watch them as they attempt to blame all the others... oh... what a price they shall pay at the hands of the American people. The congress is worthless and are traitors.

I can't believe this. WTF is McCain thinking???

Posted by: Tetris | September 24, 2008 9:26 PM

Because Senator McCain is putting Country (that means you and I) first before party or the elections. There is a financial crisis that is about to occur. The credit system in this country is almost dried up. What does that mean? That means that you and I won't be able to buy anything on credit. Try saving up 500,000-600,000 for a house. It will take you a lifetime.

Kudos to Senator McCain for the courage to try and help get a deal done. Personally, he should call the real culprits (the Democrats who started this mess in 1995) on the carpet and shove this deal in the President's face as well as Senator Reid's. All Obama can do is say "if they need me, they know where they can call me."

That doesn't sound very Presidential does it?

The chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, which was holding a hearing on the bailout, added "I'm not particularly focused on Senator McCain. I guess if I wanted expertise there [from the GOP ticket], I'd ask Sarah Palin."

So, John McCain has reportedly paid more than $5,500 to Tifanie White, the makeup artist who works on "American Idol," for similar cosmetic services. It is yet another incident of a politician -- regardless of ideological stripe -- coughing up a lot of money for the sake of good looks.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/24/mccains-5000-makeup-will_n_128973.html

Let Obama debate himself. He's used to taking both sides on every issue.

Anonymous ... IQ = 12

Posted by: Anonymous | September 24, 2008 9:22 PM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yeah, you do have an IQ of 12, but the rest of the Anonymous posters who remind us why Republicans should not get another four years in the white house are a lot smarter than you. Besides, you make your RepubliCON buddies look like Einstein.

This is just McCain’s way of trying to avoid the fact he holds personal responsibility in this mess. He voted to allow them do what ever thy wanted by deregulating them thanks John.

The last thing McCain wants to do is debate in the middle of the economic implosion that he and his party engineered to further enrichen his obscenely wealthy pals, the financial core of his party and campaign, at the expense of the little people. As more and more of his connections to those responsible for pillaging the economy come to the light of day he's now scrambling to appear as the concerned statesman when he is neither.

McCain's fingerprints are all over this economic crime scene.

I find it amusing yet sad that both McCain and Palin are working overtime to avoid the media and thereby the public as the heat continues to increase surrounding their policies and actions as well as their personal affairs.

The last thing we need are another inept, misguided (if not corrupt) president and vice president that take cover when they might face fire for their failures and/or malfeasance.

The most important role of a vice-president is to step in for the president.

McCain is not available for the debate, therefore Palin should step in and debate on behalf of McCain.

Great. John McCain has no honor and is a disgrace to this nation. Add coward on top of that. Go Team. This is pathetic

Until the next president is sworn into office, McCain and Obama are candidates and senators. They play a role in this financial crisis as other senators, but more importantly, they need to provide the American people with the closest thing we have to presidential job interviews, i.e., the debates.

"I wish McCain had shown the same concern when he didn’t show up in the Senate to vote on the extension of the renewable energy tax credit.”

- Penn Gov. Ed Rendell

renewable energy tax credit = $700 billion bailout proposal????

Put the pipe stem down, Ed. Step back from the turbo bong.

>>Obama....Harvard graduate top of class
Thanks to affirmative action at one of the most liberal schools in the country
>>McCain...Naval Academy...bottom of class
Country first!

>>Obama..born poor,lived on food stamps, put self through college
Thanks to affirmative action.
>>McCain..born rich, admiral daddy got him >>into academy even though he didn't deserve >>a place there..handed everything on a >>silver platter.
Actually, he was not born rich. At least look these things up.

>>Obama...left lucrative law firm to work >>with churches in poorest nighborhood in >>Chicago
And left them poorer and much worse off when he left.
>>McCain...alcoholic, cheating then left >>first wife (crippled) to marry his >>mistress with $100 million in bank...what >>a guy!
I'm an alchoholic, but didn't go through the torture that Senator McCain went through as a POW. Maybe he had some issues when he got out, ever think of that?

>>Obama; served honorably in Illinois Senate
Voted 'present' more times than not. For those of you uneducated, disadvantaged people voting for Senator Obama, that means he voted neither yes or no. Now, we find out the Illinois records have been 'scrubbed'. You couldn't get them if you tried. What is he hiding. What a coward Obama is.
>>McCain: almost served time for Keating >>Five scandal
Actually, he was found innocent because most of the money in the McCain household is tied up in trust and he can't get his hands on it.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 24, 2008 9:05 PM

This 'Anonymous' post must be from an 'I hate America' Obama supporter.

I find that McCain's idea to get out of the Presidental Debate is the albsolutely the worst tactic he has tried. Either McCain is scared to debate Obama, or McCain knows he cannot remember all the lies he has told and is unable to meet anyone outside his town Hall environment. So I will be glad to see Obama and Biden in the white house next January, but they will have to clean it well to get rid of the stench of Bush.

Let's see, McCain campaign manager takes 15,000 a month from Fannie and Freddie, Palin is blest by a witch hunter in Africa (a practice that gets innocent women killed), Republicans are in a melt down, polls come out showing Omaba is leading by a wider margin and there is more.

I guess it was time for McCain to change it up in the hopes the Republicans, who value party over country, would perk up even more.

From some of the posts I am guessing it worked, but does any educated person think this is something other than a hail mary pass and after listening to Palin talke to Couric tonight I am wondering, W T F is really wrong with the right and who IN THEIR RIGHT MIND would really believe it and still come out and support it.

David Letterman likes and respects McCain. But he svaged the old man on his show today, so hard, that I doubt McStoopid will ever be on the show again.

Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjkCrfylq-E

One word comes to mind re. McCain's rationalization for pulling out of the campaign in the face of plummeting poll numbers and the continuing embarrassment of his VP pick:

SKEDADDLED.

Yep! As in McClellan SKEDADDLED from the battlefield at Bull Run....

A sound proposal for economic recovery, from Christopher D. Andersen (2)

I believe these proposed changes embody a “win-win” for all constituencies and for the United States of America, while limiting the potential for unintended consequences. Specifically, I believe they would result in the following positive developments:

First, the changes would provide for the genesis of a limited new group of first time home buyers, thereby allowing the current glut of housing stock for sale to return to normalized levels without causing a tectonic shift from one asset class to another. In turn, this would help to restore the supply/demand balance in the housing market, thereby stemming the ongoing decline in the value of all homes. Of course, these developments would have positive implications for the regional banks’ balance sheets insofar as they are exposed both to the primary mortgage market as well as the home equity loan market. Existing homeowners would also benefit as the value of their homes would cease to be negatively impacted by the “neighborhood” effect.

Second, since regular and Roth IRAs are mere investment vehicles, no one type of fiduciary institution or market would be unduly affected by the implicit withdrawal of funds inherent in my proposal. Some of the withdrawals would come from bank CDs, some from money market funds, some from the bond market and others from the equity market. In essence, this temporary “burden” would be diffused and, in the end, I believe the resultant improvement in the underlying economy and equity markets would more than offset this temporary shift in asset allocation.

Next, since withdrawals from regular IRA accounts would be taxed at the capital gains tax rate, the Treasury’s current funding needs would be bolstered at a time when the federal deficit is increasing at an alarming pace. The resultant increase in marginal revenues from my proposal may actually lower the deficit’s overall cost to the taxpayer by concurrently lowering the yield on Treasury securities due to the implicit improvement in the federal government’s balance sheet. Also, to the extent that the Treasury acquires mortgage related assets within the parameters of the legislation currently being considered, the resultant improvement in the underlying housing market will help to mitigate the final cost to the taxpayer under this program.

Finally, it is clear that a rebound in general economic activity can not be achieved until the current dislocations in the housing market and resultant negative effects on our nation’s financial system are reversed. I believe my proposals would go a long way to help turn the tide in this respect. Ultimately, this reversal will allow the Federal Reserve to free itself from being held hostage to the cascade of falling asset values and permit it to pursue monetary policy in a manner which is truly balanced between the dual objectives of full employment and price stability. In addition, our nation’s trade and foreign policy initiatives will regain strength. Bolstered by a vibrant economy and a sound financial system our representatives will no longer be hamstrung in their response to the specter of the Chinese balking at the rollover of debt at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac or Russia’s aggressive incursions into fledgling democracies and the potential disruptions to the supply of natural resources inherent therein. My proposal will also allow many of our nation’s wounded financial institutions to repair themselves based on improving economic fundamentals, not questionable recapitalizations by foreign sovereign wealth funds.

As they should, many irresponsible financial institutions will fail in coming quarters due to their past mistakes. The more prudent institutions will benefit through increased market share and pricing power in the future. In the same respect, by allowing them to participate in the American dream of home ownership I believe my proposal would benefit those Americans that did not overextend themselves. To the extent that these same American taxpayers will be burdened by the costs of irresponsible parties’ actions of the past, and to the extent that they have been further penalized by the erosion of the value of their savings in recent years as measured by the true rate of inflation, I believe they deserve the opportunity inherent in my proposal.

Finally, in a politically charged election year, legislation designed to address the current financial/economic crisis must be politically acceptable on both sides of the aisle. Since my proposal encourages home ownership, does not have “moral hazard” implications, is targeted to middle income citizens, is immediately revenue positive, can be viewed as a tax cut, rewards responsible lending and borrowing practices, and is a temporary action, I believe it should be enthusiastically embraced by both political parties.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Christopher D. Andersen

Kenosha, Wisconsin

cc: President Bush
Speaker Pelosi
Representative Frank

JUST QUIT ALL TOGETHER INEPT C CLASS SAILOR BECAUSE YOU ARE DEAD MAN WALKING

Biden is training with his hairdresser to clean up his young head!

John McCain rushing back to Washington DC to save the economy, and incidentally missing his first debate with Barack Obama, has just had his "There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe and there never will be under a Ford Administration" moment. Or was it his Dukakis in a tank moment?

The polls will be brutal, as they should be.

A sound proposal for economic recovery, from Christopher D. Andersen (1)

September 21,2008

Mr. Henry M. Paulson Jr.
Secretary
United States Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20220

Dear Secretary Paulson:

I am writing to you with a proposal which I encourage you to consider within the context of the legislation currently being drafted by Congress regarding the Treasury’s reverse auction purchase of mortgage related assets by an amount of up to $700 billion. My proposal is politically neutral, revenue positive, limited in scope, avoids “moral hazard” at both the individual and financial institution levels and directly addresses the current overhang of new and existing single family homes held for sale.

Before briefly outlining my proposal, however, Mr. Secretary, I would like to state the following: I have been a student of and professional engaged in capital markets for more than fifteen years. As such, I know that last week’s developments, if left unchecked for a matter of only a few hours more, would have led to a total systemic failure of the global financial system. Your efforts to halt the then ensuing “death spiral” are sincerely appreciated. You have spared the American people from untold hardship, the likes of which have not been seen since the Great Depression.

The outlines of my proposal are as follows:

Mr. Secretary, I applaud your efforts to avoid the “moral hazard” of baling out both individuals and institutions that made irresponsible decisions in the past. I believe the authority you are currently seeking from the Congress to purchase mortgage related assets largely avoids this problem as those institutions which tender these securities will still be forced to take the necessary marks to their portfolios. I do not believe my proposal in any way presents a “moral hazard” issue either.

Current law allows first time home buyers to withdraw up to $10,000.00 from a Roth IRA account without taxation. I believe the same relief is extended to monies withdrawn from regular IRA accounts. This tax relief was recently enhanced by the Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008 which included a $7,500.00 tax credit for first time purchases. The tax credit in this Act, however, phases out for individuals with incomes exceeding $75,000.00 and the credit is “re-paid” over a fifteen year period.

I propose that the tax exemption limit for withdrawals from Roth IRA accounts be raised to $150,000.00 for first time purchasers. Income tax on these monies was already collected by State and Federal governments. In addition, I propose that monies withdrawn from regular IRA accounts be taxed at the fifteen percent capital gains tax rate for first time purchasers, again, up to $150,000.00. This legislation should be limited in duration to July 1, 2009. ...

I can't believe this. WTF is McCain thinking???

Sen. Todd. on McCain flying to Washington to take care of the economic crisis:

"...I think it's more of a rescue plan for his campaign rather than a rescue plan for the economy..."

Great line.

McCoward

Palin is a religious moron....Creationism...dinosaurs chasing cavemen, mammoths roaming the earth when pyramids were built, Grand Canyon created in a few days during Noah's Flood.....just a heartbeat from the Presidency folks.

Most of our Nation top economists are a bunch of ideologues!

They are as overvalued as the real state market!

Where were they 2 weeks ago?

"I'm not particularly focused on Senator McCain. I guess if I wanted expertise there [from the GOP ticket], I'd ask Sarah Palin." --Rep. Franks, D-Mass.

That sarcastic snipe pretty much sums up the Democratic attitude toward a Senator who wishes to set aside politics, roll up his sleeves and get to work on this bail-out plan.

For those who don't know, these bipartisan negotiations on great matters of state can easily run 16 hours a day, seven days a week. This is no trivial matter, and I respect McCain's wish to postpone the petty, selfish slugfest they call a presidential campaign and try to do something for the American people. Clearly, Obama doesn't see it this way and would rather posture in front of a camera than do any real work in the chambers of Congress.

For all the people in this talkback who called McCain a loser, coward, incompetent, alcoholic, etc.--you are merely persuading those of us who respect his courage and record of service to set aside whatever doubts we have and vote for McCain-Palin. If you are Obama's constituency, I sure don't want people like you running the country.

Larry Craig joke? David Asstoorough will just have to get used to the fact that his ilk's constant employment of propaganda and condescending sneerage towards liberalism has seen its day. It's like the GOP has to keep jumping back 2000 years to a mythical time and hop scotch right over the first and greatest Republican President. Obama not qualified? Can you name the 2 politicians whom were lawyers, known for articulate speech, both served 8-years in the Illinois State Senate, both served one term in the US Congress out of Illinois, and both were in the decided minority that opposed the wars of their day? Hint - observe pennies or $5 doallr bill in your wallet or largest monument on the Washington Mall. And then tell me Obama has no training or experience that might prepare him to lead this nation in a time of crisis. You nut jobs have had your run of picking losers - time for the educated realists to carry this election.

What do you expect from the rookie? His sleazy party's hacks who ran and looted Fannie and Freddie, aided by Chris Dodd and Barney Frank are largely responsible for the debacle. Obama knows it, and he received a lot of money from Raines and Johnson, but he still tries to blame Bush. Typical democrat corruption.
They have no shame and no integrity.

Why does McCain want the job any way? He's just going to be sleeping on the job. While the his gender card choice VP shoots bears.

Is there longevity in McCain's family? Then what happens the hunter with no experience takes over? Why she gets spoon feed her speeches. America doesn't have time for this. Come on people open your eyes

Note: . .

1)Both Paulson and Bernanke were appointed by George W. Bush -- beware of the Bush-wack.

2) McCain is all about gietie-up hurry-up. Watch the Tenderfoot, who is so quick to shoot from the hip, bring some small changes to the program and then brag how important they were . . . . . He will stay close to the GOP herd.

3) Most of our Nations top economists are urging us to go slow, and not hurry-up.

Anonymous ... IQ = 12

Dougie - I'm not especially interested in the polls but I am concerned about a terrorist associating pawn of Axelrod and Soros teaming up with a Pelosi Congress to have fascist show trials of political opponents and stamping out free speech for anyone who dares to disagree with them.

>>I have a good idea- let's put Palin and Biden in this Friday slot and see what McCain says about this.

Posted by: Westmichigangrandma | September 24, 2008 8:57 PM

I'm a McCain/Palin supporter and believe your suggestion is a very good one.

"...there are times for politics and there are times to rise above politics and do what’s right.... Part of the president’s job is to deal with more than one thing at once."

- Barack Obama, rejecting McCain's proposal.

Apparently Obama does not believe this is a time to do what's right.

Enough of posturing and superficiality!

The Obscure Candidate has been talking for what seems like centuries and never gave us a hint of what was coming on the economic front!

We don't need more debates to figure out that the Federal Reserve and the Treasury will be calling the shots for a long, long, long time!

In 2003, the Republicans wanted to regulate Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac... and the Democrats refused!

Here's the New York Times article from September 11, 2003.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E06E3D6123B F932A2575AC0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1

There you have it.

Proof!

The Democrats DID NOT WANT to regulate Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac.

Note the Barney Frank quote on page 2 of the New York Times article from September 11, 2003. It's very revealing!

It was the Democrats who pushed for this deregulation -- because the liberals feared that regulations placed on Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac would deny home loans to poor minorities.

A vote for Obama in November is a vote for unprecedented financial DISASTER. You ain't seen nothing yet!

The Democrats caused this financial mess with their stupid deregulation of the mortgage industry via liberal policies of forcing lenders to lend to poor people... who can't possibly pay back.

Obama vs. McCain......
YouTube vs. Feeding Tube

I guess Senator McCain never heard of the term multi-task.

Listening to the President and one thing is clear to me. Average Americans will not receive a dime! No stimulus, not lower but higher interest rates, tighter restrictions on borrowing, but lots of flag waving and fear mongering. Things are so dire he spoke for less than 5 minutes. The Conservatives are not even going to kiss you first, just shove it!

I'd vote Republican if I qualified. I don't make enough money, can't tap dance (especially in public toilets), haven't hit on interns, am not a gay evangelist, am not greedy, didn't kill any of my fellow servicemembers while I served, my daddy wasn't an admiral nor was he in a position to be able to influence anyone, did not apply for deferrals because I had better things to do, did not support the Bush administration over 90% of the time, and do not have foreign policy experience because I can't see Russia from my back yard.

So, I guess I'll be voting for Obama.

Country first means facing the press, dealing in good faith with the opposition, and being frank with the public.

Mccain is trying to use this wallstreet crisis to somehow turn it to his advantage by his rush to Washington and trying to delay the debates and he may fool the easily fooled but many see right through this political stunt.No Mccain No how No way.No more bush policies.

Palin is not a moron!

I give you Exhibit A, a Republican who feels the polls going against him:

David Astroturf wrote, "It's your Jesus Obama who partners with people who intentionally blow up and kill people. Intentionally."

Anonymous ... stupid & moron!

John McCain and Sarah Palin.....
Incontinent and Incompetent

Obama doesn't know anything about anything aside from running for office and writing books about himself.

McCain if you scurrd say you're scurrd

He can't debate, they won't let her(Palin) debate. Uhhhh noooo experience?

Throw in the towel now. That young guy Obama is gonna knock you out.

It'll take another gimmick to put another GOP president in the white house.

You're going down suckers.

So, let me get this right, McCain, who has publicly admitted that the economy is a weak area for him, wants to cancel a debate that is supposed to be about foreign policy, one of his declared strong suits to go back to Washington and get involved in the latest economic debate? Let me unspin this one for you, McCain was planning on playing the 'we are winning the war in Iraq now' card during fridays debate but now is afraid that with the current economic situation, that lots of folks might say, "yeah, thats right, but, considering the cost in dollars and lives was it really worth it?" As Tip O'Neil once said "all politics is local" and the state of the American economy currently trumps the American adventure in Iraq.
McCain wants to reshuffle the cards and (like our friends on Wall street) get a do over. This is about him trying to change the subject from the money down the Iraq rathole to him being some kind of proactive leader, but, the flaw in the scheme is that HE HAS ALREADY ADMITTED THAT HE DOESN'T KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT ECONOMIC MATTERS. So, I think that is fair to conclude that this just a McCain Campaign DOG AND PONY SHOW!!!!!LOL

Drama,Postureing,Pandering,Panic,Hysterics
Drama,Postureing,Pandering,Panic,Hysterics
Drama,Postureing,Pandering,Panic,Hysterics==============McBush,McVain,McCaint======================McBush,McVain,McCaint=============================

usa3 - Woo! Time for a Larry Craig joke! It's your Jesus Obama who partners with people who intentionally blow up and kill people. Intentionally. And you want him to be president. Like vwcat, I'm sure you'd be "down" with murdering people too as long as you had a big enough mob behind you.

McCain's greatest moment was not being born to a 4-star admiral who was born to a 4-star admiral which allowed him to get his underachieving behind into Annapolis so he could distinguish himself as smarter than 4 other midshipmen out of a class of 899. And it isn't his ability to look serious when calling Obama elitist who never had any silver spoon in his mouth and daddy and granddaddy opening doors for him. His greatest strength is not the legion of conservative crazies out there some of whom honestly think Obama is the anti-Christ and that Fred Flinstone could have handled the brontosaurus ribs if he only had a hummer fueled by ANWR oil. His greatest gift is steering his plane (substitute campaign) into enemy fire and getting shot down. Once on the ground and crippled up he works his magic.

he's just trying to postpone Palin's debate next week...she needs more prepping.

Obama....Harvard graduate top of class
McCain...Naval Academy...bottom of class

Obama..born poor,lived on food stamps, put self through college
McCain..born rich, admiral daddy got him into academy even though he didn't deserve a place there..handed everything on a silver platter.

Obama...left lucrative law firm to work with churches in poorest nighborhood in Chicago
McCain...alcoholic, cheating then left first wife (crippled) to marry his mistress with $100 million in bank...what a guy!

Obama; served honorably in Illinois Senate
McCain: almost served time for Keating Five scandal

Gosh David Astroturf, I thought it was Cheney who liked to shoot people?

Anonymous what does your last posting have to do with the subject of this article? Stay on topic or troll eslewhere.

Uhhh, Johnny;

This whole mess was caused by Phil Gramm and you!

So get your Punk-A SENIOR Senator butt in gear!

And learn to if not "Respect WE THE PEOPLE!", At least your Moral Superiors, and your Betters!

In other words John McSame;

Senator Obama would like both sugar and cream-IN HIS COFFEE!

So get it diaper boy! ;~)

John McCain has a campaign jet for his personal use, I don't understand why he can't multi-task. Crisis often don't come one at a time. The President of the United States is going to have to be able to manage not only domestic issues, but international crisis all at the same time.

You can't suspend the Executive Office of the President.

This is shameless politicizing of a very real American economic dilema.

John McCain, who admittedly, does not know much about the economy, wants to interrupt the ongoing negotiations on Capital Hill, for a political photo-op and to save political face.

Unforgivable, QUITE unforgivable...

Hey, all you righties!

Why is the GOP SOCIALIZING WALL STREET!!!

ROBNNIE IS ROLLING OVER IN HIS GRAVE!

vwcat - Why settle for tickets? Get yourself an AK and be one of the murderers. As a typically compassionate, high-intellect liberal Democrat I'm sure you'd get sexually aroused by killing unarmed political opponents and rolling in their blood. And remember, you're not alone. There are many just like you in the Democratic Party.

The Era of Republican Disasters....
1. Electing George Bush President (twice)
2. Ignoring terrorist warnings month before the 9/ll attacks.
3. Financial Crisis I: Enron & Bush's friends.
4. Unncessary, costly, immoral war in Iraq.
5. Incompetent reconstruction of Iraq
6. Incompetent FEMA response to Katrina disaster with 1,800 dead.
7. Financial Crisis II: Great Depression II

The end of an era is approaching...change is coming to Washington and his name is Obama!

Nobama is all about stealing the white house and personal ambition; never mind he has no resume, no background, no experience, no quals, no nothing. He stole the nomination from HRC, now he wants to steal the election.

So what if the economy goesinto the tank. Never mind, it is about him getting into the WH, that's what matters. His gutter rat groupies wil ofcourse not even know what is good for them, and will jumpinto the river for him.

So, of course, he is going to reject the McCain offer to work together on the bailout plan, because that is a variable he is not prepared for. He can't go to DC to discuss, cause he is too clueless to discuss or negotiate anything. The economy is not a topic he has any knowledge of, it is not the topic of stealing nominations, for godssake.

So, he is grandstanding, and he will make some drama by going to MS to the debate site and score some cheap points, the economy be damned.

Maybe they can sell ah..."put" the debt on eBay!

I just read that McCain wants the VP debate to be postponed and he and Obama take the spot. Now we know the real reason he created a stunt for the debate. Palin is not ready. I have a good idea- let's put Palin and Biden in this Friday slot and see what McCain says about this.

Orderly markets take comfort from orderly processes. Say what you're going to do, and then do it. Markets hate surprises. (Remember Alan Greenspan and his nuanced slowly evolving language about interest rates?)

Right now we are in the orderly process of picking a new president. There are 3 presidential debates, one VP debate and on Nov 4th we vote. Throwing that all out the window and "winging it" will *NOT* reasure the markets.

There is a fine line between a Maverick and a Loose Cannon. I think McCain has crossed it.

If anything, he will just add to the chaos in Washington and help spread a sense of panic.

What's next if we suspend the debates?
Why not suspend the entire election and declare martial law?

McCain woke up 2 days before his prime time first debate and knew he was underprepared. What to do? Call in sick? Too obvious. Call in a bomb threat a few hours before the debate? No go - Secret Service watching over his shoulder. Best bet - yell fire in the movie theatre and lead everyone over to the fire department to help load the hoses, help firemen dress, show them how to jump down the pole and where to stand or sit on the fire engine.

McCain to the rescue!!!!!!!! Here comes the calvary!!!!!!!!

McCynical has not voted in the Senate since April. I wonder if he still knows where his office is?

I wonder what McSame will be doing in Washington on Friday night at 9PM when all the other members of Congress have gone home for the weekend?

Perhaps he could hang out in his hotel room and watch Obama debate McCutNRun's empty seat on TV.

Uhhh, Barry;

A Congressional LEADER, HAS asked you!

So get your Punk-A JUNIOR Senator butt in gear!

And learn to if not "Respect your Elders!", At least your Superiors, and your Betters!

In other words Barack O'Bomba-Nation;

Senator McCain would like both sugar and cream-IN HIS COFFEE!

So get it! ;~)

Who is hijacking our democratic process. Delay debates? Suspend campaigns? Give away our tax money for Wall Street and war in the middle east? Something is very wrong with the way America does business. Did soldiers die for this kind of limp democracy? Democracy may not be free, but it wasnt intended to be this weak kneed with no risk and just give from the public.

This is a great article, its unfortunate that no other outlet has focused on the timeline of phone calls/announcements.

If Obama's version of how things developed pre-McCain withdrawing from the debate, I would like to hear any Republican supporter seriously argue that this was nothing more than a desperate political move.

For an added bonus try to justify moving the presidential debate to Thursday and moving the VP debate to an undisclosed later date.

Good luck.

Maybe someone has already posted this, but check out McCain's left eye in the clip where he says he wants to postpone the debate. Does he look right to you?

Seriously, what's wrong with him?

Let me get this straight. The economic situation is so dire that McCain believes he must suspend his campaign, cancel the presidential debate, and no-show for tonight's program on David Letterman. But .... he's available for an interview on CBS tonight and can attend the Global Initiative conference tomorrow. THEN he'll head to Washington to solve all America's economic woes, even though he doesn't "know much about the economy".

On the other hand, Senator Obama is capable of multi-tasking: monitoring and participating in the bail-out negotiations in Washington while managing his campaign operations AND preparing for Friday night's debate.

Let the debate go on. Perhaps McCain's very qualified second-in-command, Ms. Palin, can sit in for her boss. That's her role after all. So is she ready or is she not?

McCain hasn't been to Washington since APRIL!

APRIL Since he's shown his face to vote against the G.I. bill, and like the sissy he is, he is running away. He's incapable of doing more than one thing at a time. Thought everyone would call Obama unpatriotic! Ha,
Voting AGAINST the G.I. bill is unpatriotic!

Get a grip Senator McCain, you are confusing everyone. now you say, if the bill doesn't pass by Friday, WE'LL BE IN A DEEP DEPRESSION BY MONDAY!
Geeze, Just a week ago Monday, you said the fundaemental of the economy were SOUND!
Now, by this Monday we'll be in a deep DEPRESSION, OVERNIGHT!

ALSO WHY DOES SARAH PALIN HAVE A WITCH DOCTOR LAYING HANDS ON HER AT CHURCH, WHY WON'T SARAH TALK ABOUT TROOPERGATE?
WHY DID RICK DAVIS, YOUR CAMPAIGN MANAGER TAKE $2 MILLION FROM FANNIE AND FREDDIE, EVEN THOUGH YOU SAID HE DIDN'T?

YOU ARE VERY CONFUSING OLD MAN, GET A GRIP!

Can anyone stop the name calling long enough to confirm the rumors that Biden is planning on dropping out Oct. 3 after the debate?

I am very relieved Americans get to see McCain's "leadership" style: hysteria and panic!

Gee...I think I'll go with Obama, thanks. McCain is not up to the job.

The Era of Republican Disasters....
1. Electing George Bush President (twice)
2. Ignoring terrorist warnings month before the 9/ll attacks.
3. Financial Crisis I: Enron & Bush's friends.
4. Unncessary, costly, immoral war in Iraq.
5. Incompetent reconstruction of Iraq
6. Incompetent FEMA response to Katrina disaster with 1,800 dead.
7. Financial Crisis II: Great Depression II

The end of an era is approaching...change is coming to Washington and his name is Obama!

Hey Anonymous "white privilege" - Couldn't you have just shortened all that to screaming "Raaaaacist!!!"?

David Astroturf, why in world would we give the criminals in the White house right now any trial.
I think just lining them up would be fine.
I am hoping to get tickets to the event.

Jesus was a radical Socialist.

Posted by: sequoia

-----------------------------

Yeah and he was also one of those swarthy Sephardic Jews. Y

So remember all you good Christians, you are following the teachings of one of them dark skinned fer-rin types if you believe in Jesus. What? Did you somehow think Jesus was a white European?

Maybe you should do some serious soul searching before you succumb to your racist instincts in who you are voting for and why.

MCCAIN IS A JOKE IF YOU LOOK AT HIM HE LOOK CRAZY I'M SHAKING MY HEAD HE LOSING HIS MIND.NOW HE WANT TO CANCEL THE VICE-PRESIDENT DEBATE.IF I WAS OBAMA I WOULDN'T CANCEL AGAIN. MCCAIN KNOW THEY ARE LOSING HE LOOK SO PATHETIC. THE CRISIS HAPPEN LAST WEEK NOW HE THINKING TODAY IT NO. 1 ISSUES.HE HAVEN'T BEEN IN WASHINGTON SINCE MARCH AND NOW HE THINK THEY NEED HIM.BARAK CAME OUT LOOKING PRESIDENT WITH LEADERSHIP SO PROUD OF HIM. MCCAIN LEFT THE STAGE LIKE SOMEBODY AFTER HIM. LOOK AT THE TAPE.

Mark - Don't confuse the true believers with facts. ObamaJesus is pure as sunlight and when the Dems are in office they're going to give Bush, Cheney, Rove, etc., a fair five minute trial then line them up against a wall and machine gun them just like their other idol Che Guevara would. Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn will be on hand as consultants.

The mere fact that John McCain voted for and supported Bush's nightmare war in Iraq is enough evidence that his foreign policy decision making ability stinks! Taking a few junkets to Iraq doesn't cut it John. You couldn't even keep straight the difference between Sunni and Shia...time to retire to one of your dozen homes John.
It will all be over soon enough. Get prepared everyone....for President Barack Hussein Obama.

Hey MARK

THE GOP IS DOING IT, NOT THE DEMS.

AMERICA HAS HAD ENOUGH! YOU ARE ALONE IN YOUR

ARGUEMENT, GO TO DRUDGE

Excuse me sir!
I'm your President of World.
Presidential Question #72h:
Why American Woman is nomber One in the World? (If you got the wrong answer I fire you Sen.Obama & Mccain.)
1) American woman is Beautiful.
2) No money Easy & Free Xex.
3) Strong & tall.
4) Honest,Afort,Beautiful,preservrance.

Looks like Obama is going to do his job as a senator for once, that's what he is going to do in Washington.
Looks like Obama is afraid that McCain will show up and keep the debate on topic.
What a scam obama is.

If McCain pulls this off, then he will not have had to talk with the press at all. And the press may be duped

This whole mess screams Shock Doctrine.

Shock Doctrine: The privatization of an economy under the authority not because it is democratically popular, but because ideals are pushed through while the citizens of countries were in shock from disasters or upheavals. It is also claimed that these shocks are in some cases, created with the intention of being able to push through these unpopular reforms in the wake of the crisis.

"The One" would have to debate himself even if mccain showed up. The mccain campain knows that, of course, and that is why they are trying to run from the fight or should I say the beating?
After all, what is he going to say? "the basics of our econmy are good"?

This nation has suffered eight long years with the "War President"...isn't about time we have a "Thinking President" instead?.
________________________________________
No we need an action president like McCain.
We're tired of platitudes and we believe Biden
"Obama is not ready to lead" Yes Biden we know, more and more people are finding out every day

Hey! Obama! Why not get involved with your responsibilities as a US Senator?! Heck, getting involved with this mess and voting for a resolution will FINALLY give you something to put on our resume! So far you pretty much have a blank slate.

Since Johnny has "suspended" his campaign to get back to Wershington I can't help but wonder if, God forbid, a "President" McCain would suspend elections in time of emergency too. Only 117 days left folks but its still way too long and they will come up with other mischief and un-American activities. "Don't be distracted by the ground noise." Fight fight fight!

...anybody else see the video of Sarah Palin being "blessed" by her witch-hunting "pastor"?

LOL!

Way to pick 'em McCain!

No wonder you want to cancel the VP debates.

Yes, we can see through it all.

Dear McCain,

What are you going to do if you're elected and things get tough? Suspend being president? We've got a guy like that now!

McCain pondered Friday’s debate and rightly realized that he would be whipped. So, he pulls his second political stunt in 4 weeks. The first fizzled out in 2 weeks. This one lasted about 2 hours.

Friday’s debate should proceed as planned. If McCain chooses to “eject”, Obama should attend and frame McCain as he chooses.

Showboating in the skies of Vietnam is over. This time, McCain has crashed and burned.

This nation has suffered eight long years with the "War President"...isn't about time we have a "Thinking President" instead?.
________________________________________
No we need an action president like McCain.
We're tired of platitudes and we believe Biden
"Obama is not ready to lead" Yes Biden we know, more and more people are finding out every day

...just like a Marine to imply that their branch of the service is more important than any other branch. We may not all agree, but we're all on the same team.

Posted by: Former Air Force | September 24, 2008 8:28 PM

I didn't say that. Maybe you should have learn to read while you were "in the rear with the gear."

Posted by: Former Marine
-----------------------------------------------
He didn't say you said it, he said you implied it - which you just did again. Maybe you should have finished getting that GED before choosing a career just so you could wave it in everyone's face.

This nation has suffered eight long years with the "War President"...isn't about time we have a "Thinking President" instead?.
________________________________________
No we need an action president like McCain.
We're tired of platitudes and we believe Biden
"Obama is not ready to lead" Yes Biden we know, more and more people are finding out every day

The Democrats created this mess.

In 2003, the Republicans wanted to regulate Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac... and the Democrats refused!

See this New York Times article from September 11, 2003.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E06E3D6123BF932A2575AC0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1

There you have it.

Proof!

The Democrats DID NOT WANT to regulate Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac.

Note the Barney Frank quote on page 2 of the New York Times article from September 11, 2003. It's very revealing!

It was the Democrats who pushed for this deregulation -- because the liberals feared that regulations placed on Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac would deny home loans to poor minorities.

A vote for Obama in November is a vote for unprecedented financial DISASTER. You ain't seen nothing yet!

The Democrats caused this financial mess with their stupid deregulation of the mortgage industry via liberal policies of forcing lenders to lend to poor people... who can't possibly pay back.

For those who still can't grasp the concept of white privilege, or who are constantly looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps this list will help.

White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents, because "every family has challenges," even as black and Latino families with similar "challenges" are regularly typified as irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay..

White privilege is when you can call yourself a "f*ckin' redneck," like Bristol Palin's boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with you, you'll "kick their f*ckin' *ss," and talk about how you like to "shoot sh*t" for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible, all-American boy (and a great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.

White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six years like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, then returned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and no one questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas a person of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and probably someone who only got in in the first place because of affirmative action.

White privilege is when you can claim that being mayor of a town smaller than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about the same number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan, makes you ready to potentially be president, and people don't all p*ss on themselves with laughter, while being a black U.S. Senator, two-term state Senator, and constitutional law scholar, means you're "untested."

White privilege is being able to say that you support the words "under God" in the pledge of allegiance because "if it was good enough for the founding fathers, it's good enough for me," and not be immediately disqualified from holding office--since, after all, the pledge was written in the late 1800s and the "under God" part wasn't added until the 1950s--while believing that reading accused criminals and terrorists their rights (because, ya know, the Constitution, which you used to teach at a prestigious law school requires it), is a dangerous and silly idea only supported by mushy liberals.

White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people immediately scared of you. White privilege is being able to have a husband who was a member of an extremist political party that wants your state to secede from the Union, and whose motto was "Alaska first," and no one questions your patriotism or that of your family, while if you're black and your spouse merely fails to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with her kids on the first day of school, people immediately think she's being disrespectful.

White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the work they do--like, among other things, fight for the right of women to vote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to child labor--and people think you're being pithy and tough, but if you merely question the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month governor with no foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college--you're somehow being mean, or even sexist.

White privilege is being able to convince white women who don't even agree with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate anyway, because all of a sudden your presence on the ticket has inspired confidence in these same white women, and made them give your party a "second look."

White privilege is being able to fire people who didn't support your political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being a typical politician who engages in favoritism, while being black and merely knowing some folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means you must be corrupt.

White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years whose pastors say that people who voted for John Kerry or merely criticize George W. Bush are going to h*ll, and that the U.S. is an explicitly Christian nation and the job of Christians is to bring Christian theological principles into government, and who bring in speakers who say the conflict in the Middle East is God's punishment on Jews for rejecting Jesus, and everyone can still think you're just a good church-going Christian, but if you're black and friends with a black pastor who has noted (as have Colin Powell and the U.S. Department of Defense) that terrorist attacks are often the result of U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racism and its effect on black people, you're an extremist who probably hates America.

White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when asked by a reporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for asking you such a "trick question," while being black and merely refusing to give one-word answers to the queries of Bill O'Reilly means you're dodging the question, or trying to seem overly intellectual and nuanced.

White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anything at all to do with your fitness for president, while being black and experiencing racism is, as Sarah Palin has referred to it a "light" burden.

And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could possibly allow someone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their homes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world opinion, just because white voters aren't sure about that whole "change" thing. Ya know, it's just too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, four more years of the same, which is very concrete and certain.

White privilege is, in short, the problem.

Tim Wise is the author of White Like Me (Soft Skull, 2005, revised 2008), and of Speaking Treason Fluently, publishing this month, also by Soft Skull.

Mark,

Are you really and ignorant fool or are you just pretending? The Democrats created this? Who was it that controlled both chambers of congress AND the presidency?

Share what you're smokin' dude, because we could all use some.

Marc,

Give it up bro. No ones buying it except your people.

I can't believe Obama accepted the Presidents invitation. Who's going to be debating on Friday if Mccain is still in Washington.

Um, Mike:

Have you READ the Bible?

Jesus was a radical Socialist.

Bishop Tu Tu.....that was McCain's plan all along. It's not going to work. The American Public smells a rat and McCain needed a "time out".

Bush should not be inviting candidates to Washington for this. Bush is still the elected president and he should stay out of the next election. Neither McCain or Obama have authority at this point conferred by the people beyond their Senate seat. This is wrong, and its antidemocratic. There is a real danger here to our democratic process.

Preview your Comment

The country is being duped again by the Bush administration who wants to hurry up and give a possible $2 trillion to bail out corruption on Wall Street. Just like there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, there is no reason to bail out Wall Street. This thing needs to play out. The stock market has been highly volatile for two-years or more and the last few days is the same as it has been.

FYI: McSame chose Alaska, not Palin. Alaska is an oil state and McSame has been bought and paid for by the oil companies. If McSame gets elected, forget about getting off of our dependency on oil.

The truth is that the USA will be doomed if we do not quickly change to using renewable energy and fuels. Mexico just announced that its oil production has dropped 26%, which means that their liquid oil reserves are essentially depleted and they will be pumping out sludge before too long. The same thing is going to happen in the Persian Gulf any time now. The USA will be completely crippled when oil runs out. Forget about drilling for more oil because it will take years and trillions of dollars to find anything but sludge. It costs too much to refine sludge. It won't be long before the price of gasoline is $15 per gallon.
If McSame gets elected, all of the protected wilderness areas and coastal areas are going to be invaded and drilled, with tax payer money.

Looks like McCain is a CUT AND RUN Marine. Obama should proceed to the debate podium with or without McCain. McCain can either show up, send Sarah as a stand-in or leave his podium empty. In any case, Obama and the mediators should proceed as planned with the televised debate.

McCain is literally incapable of dealing with complex issues. This is obvious.

Only fools will fall for McCain's ploy.
Everyone knows mcCain is in trouble. He doesn't want Palin to debate next week and his campaign manager got caught with his hand in the Freddie/Fannie cookie jar.
McCain needs to do something to as well to stop the bleeding in the polls.
He is in trouble and a month and a half out.
Too bad, so sad. McCain is going to lose and Obama is looking presidential.

WHITE PEOPLE! WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YA'LL!!! YOU'VE BECOME THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THE WORLD. THIS IS A SHAM! AND YOU GET NOTHING! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! STAY AT HOME DADS UNITE! TAKE BACK YOUR COUNTRY!

This nation has suffered eight long years with the "War President"...isn't about time we have a "Thinking President" instead?.....4,100 US Soldiers dead, 32,000 wounded, 95,000+ Iraqi civilians killed, 250,000 wounded....number of Iraqi's involved in 9/11.................................0

Obama and the democrats look bad on this one.

Obama makes $160,000.00 a year, when is he going to start earning it ?

Posted by: Bishop TuTu | September 24, 2008 8:26 PM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And McSame earns so much more after he accepts all of the payouts from his lobbyist buddies that he will be protecting from us horrible taxpaying Americans if he becomes President.

Oh well, McSame will be letting Palin write policy while he catches up on his sleep. Palin, in turn, can let Todd write policy and tell her how she should vote.

All hail the next RepubliCON president...Todd!

McCain was going to get his hat handed to him on the economy this Friday. He knew it. He couldn't risk a bad performance so close to a sudden drop in the polls. It would be political suicide. He needed to buy time. He needed to do something. He did.

That's all there is. Ray Charles can see through that.

The Democrats created this mess.

In 2003, the Republicans wanted to regulate Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac... and the Democrats refused!

See this New York Times article from September 11, 2003.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E06E3D6123BF932A2575AC0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1

There you have it.

Proof!

The Democrats DID NOT WANT to regulate Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac.

Note the Barney Frank quote on page 2 of the article. It's very revealing!

It was the Democrats who pushed for this deregulation -- because the liberals feared that regulations placed on Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac would deny home loans to poor minorities.

A vote for Obama in November is a vote for unprecedented financial DISASTER. You ain't seen nothing yet!

The Democrats caused this financial mess with their deregulation of the mortgage industry via liberal policies of forcing lenders to lend to poor people... who can't possibly pay back.

Its 10 TRILLION now? Checks inflation. uh oh the ghost of President Nixon!

Looks like another Oboma flip-flop.
First I don't need to go to washington, now he's willing to go (according to CNN)when he has a seat at the adult table instead of the kiddie table

There's a lot going on that the media is not reporting.

See the Casper Reports:
http://fourwinds10.com/

See here:
http://worldreports.org/news

Also see this CNN report:
http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/23/news/companies/fbi_finance.ap/index.htm?cnn=yes

Empires, while teetering over collapse, go temporarily and almost utterly insane. People cannot wrap their minds around what is ACTUALLY HAPPENING, so they adopt REALLY STRONG, nonsensical beliefs; any perspective by which they may perceive themselves as righteous and furthermore safe.

So, the "kool aid drinkers" jab is more apt then you might expect.

This ship is crashing, the least Republicans can do is get out of the pilot's cabin.

Are we living in a communist country? Stop the debate? Suspend the campaign? Take 700 billion for an elite?

Republican are masters of WMD, ie, Weapons of Mass DisTraction.

they are doing it again...

and now Bush completes McCain's stunt by in fact inviting he and Obama to meet with him to help resolve the crisis. they'll have to hurry, because news out of capitol hill is that they may finish the bailout bill before the meeting to help resolve the non-existent stalemate.

it just gets sillier.

Obama's comments about the president has to do more then one thing is a bunch of blarney. McCain chose to do what he was elected to do as Senator even if it ruins his political career. He definitely has put his country first. Obama was also elected a US Senator why isn't he working with congress to solve the problem? no he isn't for change he is me first then country. This shows me that Obama is all talk & no do. I don't think he has a clue what to do. McCain chose to do something about the economy instead of just talking about it. The 3 am call has come & who is doing something about it? McCain. Obama? Lets just debate about it. We need action now not later. Obama has just proven to me he cannot lead. Win or lose my vote is for McCain.

Jesus was a liberal?
I don't recall one place in the Bible where Jesus took from the rich and gave to the poor.
As a matter of fact He believed in trickle down. He told those that tended to the fields to not pick the fields clean and leave some for the poor to come by pick up.

So this is what the collapse of a Presidential campaign looks like.

Can't wait to watch Letterman tonight, and Palin's interview with Couric should be standard viewing for all undecided voters!

"I'll try to find some and I'll bring 'em to ya!" with that creepy culty grin.

It's over. O-V-E-R.

c'mon Former Marine, you don't have to be that way. There's lots of room for a big boy like you.
call me at 1-800-EAT-SIHT
Posted by: FormerHomo | September 24, 2008 8:30 PM

That’s what I figured. Do you know who Ahmadinejad is? Probably not, but that doesn’t surprise me.

Guess who's going to washington:
Breaking News >> Bush Proposes Meeting With Obama, McCain and Congressional Leaders on Bailout Bill

I guess that's change

More "hide the ball" politics from John McCain. He can't come up with a consistent storyline on the economy, freaks out when everyone realizes McCain's campaign manager has been on Freddie Mac's dole right up through last month, then hits the mondo panic button when he goes down by nine in the polls. McCain keeps pulling crap out of his a$$ and the media treats it as if it were real (like they did with Palin) instead of calling a gimmicky stunt a gimmicky stunt. McCain's flailing.

This is just a republican political stunt. McCain now wants the debate to be moved to the night of the vp debate and then have that on rescheduled.

They do not want Palin to debate Biden. The republicans are afraid Palin is going to choke like she did today with Katie K.

"Obama makes $160,000.00 a year, when is he going to start earning it ?"

The McCain's raked in over $100 MILLION last year, and don't even know how many homes they own. John has 13 cars in his name. Cindy has 11, however the Lexus she prefers is actually in her daughter's name. Obama owns ONE car - a Ford Escape Hybrid. They cost about $25,000. The McCain's pay $130,000 a year just for their maid service and a nanny for a teenager. Grandma watches the Obama girls. . for free. Obama's $160,000 is NOTHING in comparison. McCain can't relate to the little people, but Obama can. Its awfully fun to read about the tax returns. Too bad Sarah Palin refuses to make hers public.

soemthing tells me, McCain is running scared.
Physically, he is old, intellectually he is feeble.

What a sad way to tell on his self.

Like Obama could possibly contribute anything. His South Side Chicago district is a tangled mess of corruption and poverty with rich contributors raking it in. His Finance Chair is Penny Pritzker, the subprime princess, whose bank was seized by the government. Rezko was in court yesterday facing mortage fraud charges. Franklin Raines from Fannie and Obama's big bucks from both Fannie and Freddie.

Guy doesn't have a clue what's right, what's wrong.

Until the next president is sworn into office, McCain and Obama are candidates and senators. They play a role in this financial crisis as other senators, but more importantly, they need to provide the American people with the closest thing we have to presidential job interviews, i.e., the debates.

Dear McCain,

What are you going to do if you're elected and things get tough? Suspend being president? We've got a guy like that now!

Preview your Comment

The country is being duped again by the Bush administration who wants to hurry up and give a possible $2 trillion to bail out corruption on Wall Street. Just like there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, there is no reason to bail out Wall Street. This thing needs to play out. The stock market has been highly volatile for two-years or more and the last few days is the same as it has been.

FYI: McSame chose Alaska, not Palin. Alaska is an oil state and McSame has been bought and paid for by the oil companies. If McSame gets elected, forget about getting off of our dependency on oil.

The truth is that the USA will be doomed if we do not quickly change to using renewable energy and fuels. Mexico just announced that its oil production has dropped 26%, which means that their liquid oil reserves are essentially depleted and they will be pumping out sludge before too long. The same thing is going to happen in the Persian Gulf any time now. The USA will be completely crippled when oil runs out. Forget about drilling for more oil because it will take years and trillions of dollars to find anything but sludge. It costs too much to refine sludge. It won't be long before the price of gasoline is $15 per gallon.
If McSame gets elected, all of the protected wilderness areas and coastal areas are going to be invaded and drilled, with tax payer money.

Preview your Comment

The country is being duped again by the Bush administration who wants to hurry up and give a possible $2 trillion to bail out corruption on Wall Street. Just like there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, there is no reason to bail out Wall Street. This thing needs to play out. The stock market has been highly volatile for two-years or more and the last few days is the same as it has been.

FYI: McSame chose Alaska, not Palin. Alaska is an oil state and McSame has been bought and paid for by the oil companies. If McSame gets elected, forget about getting off of our dependency on oil.

The truth is that the USA will be doomed if we do not quickly change to using renewable energy and fuels. Mexico just announced that its oil production has dropped 26%, which means that their liquid oil reserves are essentially depleted and they will be pumping out sludge before too long. The same thing is going to happen in the Persian Gulf any time now. The USA will be completely crippled when oil runs out. Forget about drilling for more oil because it will take years and trillions of dollars to find anything but sludge. It costs too much to refine sludge. It won't be long before the price of gasoline is $15 per gallon.
If McSame gets elected, all of the protected wilderness areas and coastal areas are going to be invaded and drilled, with tax payer money.

Preview your Comment

The country is being duped again by the Bush administration who wants to hurry up and give a possible $2 trillion to bail out corruption on Wall Street. Just like there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, there is no reason to bail out Wall Street. This thing needs to play out. The stock market has been highly volatile for two-years or more and the last few days is the same as it has been.

FYI: McSame chose Alaska, not Palin. Alaska is an oil state and McSame has been bought and paid for by the oil companies. If McSame gets elected, forget about getting off of our dependency on oil.

The truth is that the USA will be doomed if we do not quickly change to using renewable energy and fuels. Mexico just announced that its oil production has dropped 26%, which means that their liquid oil reserves are essentially depleted and they will be pumping out sludge before too long. The same thing is going to happen in the Persian Gulf any time now. The USA will be completely crippled when oil runs out. Forget about drilling for more oil because it will take years and trillions of dollars to find anything but sludge. It costs too much to refine sludge. It won't be long before the price of gasoline is $15 per gallon.
If McSame gets elected, all of the protected wilderness areas and coastal areas are going to be invaded and drilled, with tax payer money.

branch of the service is more important than any other branch. We may not all agree, but we're all on the same team.

Posted by: Former Air Force | September 24, 2008 8:28 PM

I didn't say that. Maybe you should have learned to read while you were "in the rear with the gear."

...just like a Marine to imply that their branch of the service is more important than any other branch. We may not all agree, but we're all on the same team.

Posted by: Former Air Force | September 24, 2008 8:28 PM

I didn't say that. Maybe you should have learn to read while you were "in the rear with the gear."

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAH
McCain, you've done it again!

Stop insulting Sarah Palin! I'm sick of it! Of course she believes that dinosaurs once chased cavemen a couple of thousand years ago, that the Grand Canyon was created during "the Flood", that this immense universe with countless trillions of stars was painted on the sky. Of course she believes that our occupation of Iraq is part of "God's Plan". Of course she believes it's sporting to shoot bears and wolves from helicopters. Of course she believes that global warming is just a natural occurance... oops! Go right ahead and insult her, she deserves it.

Stop insulting Sarah Palin! I'm sick of it! Of course she believes that dinosaurs once chased cavemen a couple of thousand years ago, that the Grand Canyon was created during "the Flood", that this immense universe with countless trillions of stars was painted on the sky. Of course she believes that our occupation of Iraq is part of "God's Plan". Of course she believes it's sporting to shoot bears and wolves from helicopters. Of course she believes that global warming is just a natural occurance... oops! Go right ahead and insult her, she deserves it.

CNN is reporting that the McCain campaign is negotiating with the debate commission to move Friday's debate to the night of the VP debate. So is that what is behind this in the first place?

And the lie to Dave Letterman? And then caught red handed in that lie? Make sure to see his show tonight.

Talk about desperate and low. Shameless.

CNN is reporting that the McCain campaign is negotiating with the debate commission to move Friday's debate to the night of the VP debate. So is that what is behind this in the first place?

And the lie to Dave Letterman? And then caught red handed in that lie? Make sure to see his show tonight.

Talk about desperate and low. Shameless.

Wow, I just read the National Enquirer story. Sounds pretty credible, and I certainly wouldn't find it surprising. The NE actually has a decent track record for being out ahead on some of these stories. Maybe that's one of the reasons the McCain campaign is shielding her from the Press. The Palins are just one big redneck family. I'm sure all the Republican sycophants will defend her to the hilt, just like they did with the unwed pregnant teenage daughter.

c'mon Former Marine, you don't have to be that way. There's lots of room for a big boy like you.

call me at 1-800-EAT-SIHT

Please, leave poor, abused Jesus out of this. Jesus is Jesus - so sick and tired of everyone claiming He's on their side, wondering when someone's going to be concerned whether they're on HIS side.

Trying to drag God into something as self-serving as politics is literally taking the Lord's name in vain. Cut Him a break and don't do it; He doesn't want any part of our mudfight.

E pluribus hokum: McCain The Time Bomb That Would Be President: Why did Cindy McCain become a drug addict who, phoenix Doctors claim at least three times sought medical attention for injuries consistant with physical violence.? Why did Ron and Nancy Reagan shun him and try to derail his political career? Under the terms of the 14th Amendment is McCain actually barred from ever sitting in the Oval Office? To many unanswered questions.

Palin should debate Biden on Friday instead...

Hi Former Marine, say, you're not going to be in Minneapolis any time soon are you?

Posted by: FormerHomo | September 24, 2008 8:24 PM

Is that where your club meets? Maybe you, Obama and Ahmadinejad could have a meeting to discuss whether homosexuals exist.

...just like a Marine to imply that their branch of the service is more important than any other branch. We may not all agree, but we're all on the same team.

McCain just wanted to steal the news cycle with this stunt.

How pathetic.

McCain and his rich corporate CEOs and lobbyists are desperate....after eight years at the trough their days of screwing the public may be coming to and end. What do we do now McCain asks? Sarah Palin and her "bullsh*t narrative" didn't work...let's see....time out!! time out !!! I need some time for the public to forget about my contribution to this financial crisis! That's it...now I'm Mr. Regulator....at least until November 5th.

After reading all these posts, I’m glad that McCain cancelled — this was supposed to be the foreign policy debate — now it is clear that Obama was going to sandbag McCain on the economy. Much better that BOTH SENATORS go to the Senate and pass legislation than simply debate in Mississippi.

come on, anyone can see he's trying to push back the debate of Palin-Biden next week. she hasnt been coached/prepped enough...

Obama and the democrats look bad on this one.

Obama makes $160,000.00 a year, when is he going to start earning it ?

"You need to learn that Jesus was a liberal:"

And Obama = Jesus, right? The One. The High Holy Uber-Christ of the Universe.

You libs and your media enablers are a bunch of cult-of-personality, "all for the state", state media lunatics.

The only reason McSame is trying to delay the debate is because he knows he can't win and Obama's lead will grow to double digits.

And if Obama would have pulled a McSame, McSameiacs would be posting the same thing.

Too funny-John Mc Cain, sinking in the polls and praying for a snow day!

Between Mc Cain and Palin, the GOP ticket might as well be in the witness protection program.

soemthing tells me, McCain is running scared.

Hi Former Marine, say, you're not going to be in Minneapolis any time soon are you?

I think you've met your match this time, Former Marine, whoever you are.

Posted by: Former Sailor | September 24, 2008 8:17 PM

By the way, your response had nothing to do with the debate. Typical Squid.

What better time for the American public to hear from these two candidates about what they think caused this crisis, what the government should be doing to help, why that is fair or right or in the public good and what can be done to prevent it from ever happening again? That McCain who was for deregulation pre-disaster might not be quite prepared to explain his sudden epiphany or to deal with the political fallout from the bailout he might have to say it will take to clean up his mess is no real surprise. Whether McCain shows up to debate or not, Obama needs to sock it to him.

McCain served his country admirably...but being a POW doesn't necessarily make you qualified for the high office of President, anymore than someone having been mugged on a city street any more qualified to that city's mayor.

Letterman mocked McCain during the show's taping Wednesday afternoon.

In the middle of the taping Dave got word that McCain was, in fact just down the street being interviewed by Katie Couric. Dave even cut over to the live video of the interview, and said, "Hey Senator, can I give you a ride home?"

Earlier in the show, Dave kept saying, "You don't suspend your campaign. This doesn't smell right. This isn't the way a tested hero behaves." And he joked: "I think someone's putting something in his metamucil."

"He can't run the campaign because the economy is cratering? Fine, put in your second string quarterback, Sarah Palin. Where is she?"

"What are you going to do if you're elected and things get tough? Suspend being president? We've got a guy like that now!"

Can someone please tell me what fabled financial expertise this senator who "do[es]n't know that much about the economy" will bring to bear on this crisis?

Anyone?

??

{crickets}

Now they want to cancel the VP debate!
Also, why didn't McCain do this last week, what's different this week.
NOE MCCAIN IS SAYING, IF THEY DON'T REACH A DECISION OF ABOUT THE PACKAGE, WE WILL BE IN A DEEP DEPRESSION BY THIS COMING MONDAY!!!

McCain has fallen apart. MCCAIN HASN'T BEEN TO WASHINGTON SINCE APRIL, he has lost the rest of his mind!
Scary
What a gimmick, they seem like the biggest confused, inconsistant dopes in the world!

I think you've met your match this time, Former Marine, whoever you are.

Posted by: Former Sailor | September 24, 2008 8:17 PM

Anytime you wanna meet to “discuss”, let me know.

I like you Sailors; you always gave us a ride when we needed to fight somewhere

This is an attempted triple play by the McCain camp. First, they try to dupe some Americans into thinking McCain helps achieve a bailout bill. As Representative Frank said this afternoon, he is "optimistic" a bill will be passed "within a a few days." McCain is merely trying to bring favorable political attention to himself, all the while pretending to "suspend" his campaign.

Secondly, he realizes Palin has not received enough tutoring to be ready for her debate with Biden, so he seeks an excuse to postpone her debate. How about the day after the election?

Third, he may not want to answer questions this Friday about the economy. The McCain camp wants the bailout enacted before the first debate so it may be entirely about foreign policy issues, without economic issues being raised.

While a majority of people realize McCain is hardly an agent of change, it is sad about 40% of voters believe he would represent change if elected president, despite voting for Bush policies on over 90% of occasions.

McCain camp presents itself as bold in choosing Palin, yet is arguably sexist in largely keeping her away from reporters. They seem to think Palin is incapable of presenting herself in a coherent way if she had a press conference. This seems to be an implicit acknowledgment she is not qualified to be president or vice-president.

Check McCain's Senate committee memberships. They are the Armed Forces Comm., the Indian Affairs Comm., and the Commerce, Science and Transportation Comm.

HE IS NOT ON ANY TYPE OF BANKING COMMITTEE OR FINANCE COMMITTEE. Thus he has no role in DC at this time as the BAIL-OUT issue is in the appropriate committee where it is being discussed.

McCain will have no role until the final bill comes out of committee to the Senate floor for vote. Then, he will have a role. He can vote.

This was a ploy to delay the VP debate because Sarah is not prepared. Gees. Who knew?

danmonkey....sure that wasn't McCain's speech?

McCain is all over the map. First the economy is fundamentally strong, then he goes looking for heads, then he makes the comment about 400k limits on compensation, now he is suspending his campaign in the face of this national emergency.

Where is his head? Every day he looks less reliable and his staff/supporters appear more angry (at the press) and disoriented.

Is there a McCain plan for anything? Or, does this guy spend all of his time running around putting out--or starting--little fires?

the more I see of McCain, the more he reminds me of "W".

ARRON:

You need to learn that Jesus was a liberal:

JESUS FED THE POOR AND HEALED THE SICK.

Liberalism is a mental disorder.

Let me say that again:

LIBERALISM IS A MENTAL DISORDER.

You people need a doctor, badly.

Posted by: Arron | September 24, 2008 8:14 PM
-------------------------

HA! I agree!

"Republican presidential nominee John McCain this afternoon said he would suspend his presidential campaign tomorrow to return to Washington"
----------------------------------------------
Right, but the crisis could wait until tomorrow because Sen. McCain had to do an interview with Katie Couric in New York today.

Catch Letterman tonight if you want to hear some straight talk.

Former Marine wrote:

"Isn't the debate about foreign policy?

"What is Obama talking about? I think the country can wait to hear how he is going to disgrace the nation by losing in Iraq on purpose. “I oppose the surge…”"

Uhh, yes, the debate is about foreign policy. I personally would like to see the son and grandson of admirals, who managed to graduate 894'th out of 899 at the US Naval Academy in 1958, debate.

I'd like to see how he does against the black son of ordinary people who won admission to Columbia University and Harvard Law School, graduating Magna Cum Laude from the latter.

Your man, after his party years at the Naval Academy, crashed two multi-million dollar Navy planes and flew another one into power lines before finally crashing a third plane that landed him squarely in North Vietnam, and he accomplished this all within 9 years of his less than illustrious graduation.

I'm not sure what qualifies that man to be president. Was it his association with Charles Keating? Is it that he's some kind of royalty, being the son and grandson of admirals? Is it that his reckless irresponsibility culminated in his loss of a third US fighter jet and his brutalization by his captors, our enemies?

Or is it just that about 30 per cent of citizens of the USA are diehard republicans, and another 19 per cent are white racists?

I think you've met your match this time, Former Marine, whoever you are.

Obama is p-ssed because he's been totally focused on prepping for the debates, and like always he couldn't care a rat's @ss about doing his job and earning his salary as a Senator, or attending to the needs of this country before the need to feed his ambition.

McCain would rather save the country than save his election. That's why I am voting for him, and am now writing my first check of this campaign.

Look republicans, we know you have to slant this the best way possible, you have to scream loudly that this isn't what it really is, that it is in fact something honorable and worthy of a great man on his way to the presidency.

And the democrats, of course you're right there to dig your thumb into their eyes and stick out your tongue.

This independent sees it for what it is. McCain just lost my vote. Selecting Palin wore my support to the last nerve, and this action broke it off.

I'm pretty sad that about that.

Ok you republican and democrat children, resume the mud.

Where's Waldo and Biden in this time of crisis and congressional hearings?

what a shock! John McCain spend 26 years of his life working on legislature. Barack Obama, in his more or less 11 years of elected office, has done little more than write his memoirs and then promote them as well as his celebrity status. And this is surprising to people? please.
the choice this year is between public service and self service. simple - vote mccain/palin 08!

Yes McCain is action, Obama is all words.
Biden was right on when he said that Obama is not ready to lead.

The central bank is an institution of the most deadly hostility existing against the principles and form of our Constitution.. If the American people allow private banks to control the issuance of their currency, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all their property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. -Thomas Jefferson

Liberalism is a mental disorder.

Let me say that again:

LIBERALISM IS A MENTAL DISORDER.

You people need a doctor, badly.

Look out here comes the kitchen sink!

We have suffered through recessions before, I don't see this getting to a Depression, but the fear is there, of course it doesn't help when McCain and Palin are politicizing it in the blatant way they are. Her Couric interview shows she is not ready for a debate let alone the vp position. Heaven help us if she would accidentally become president.

There are enough politicians in Washington to handle this, McCain taking the low road and going there to "look" like he can bring the Republicans together where Cheney couldn't is a contrived kabuki show where everyone loses.

Let's have the debate Friday, only change it to one on the economy. Then let the American public decide for themselves.

Decide without all the false assertions, without trying to divide, without political gain, without trying to make something look good when it isn't.

Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we. -George Bush Jr.

why would we stop determining our next leader in a time of crisis?

Sean Kursawe

McCaine and Palin are the biggest JOKES in US History.

Posted by: teres e | September 24, 2008 8:08 PM

So clearly your an idiot and dont know how to post!!!!

I hope Carl Rove and his minions in the McCain campaign finally get it -- the public is not as stupid as you think we are. We see right through this as the gimmick it is.

You guys are doing Sen. McCain no favors. You are taking a good man and honorable public servant and making him look like a putz. Shame on you.

I hope Carl Rove and his minions in the McCain campaign finally get it -- the public is not as stupid as you think we are. We see right through this as the gimmick it is.

You guys are doing Sen. McCain no favors. You are taking a good man and honorable public servant and making him look like a putz. Shame on you.

Loulor wrote:

At least she (Sarah) has got some cojones. Maybe she stole yours (McCain).
-------------------------------------------

That just about sums it up, loulor. McCain is gutless and panic-stricken. It's not going to be pretty Friday night for the old one.

But the real Republican train wreck comes October 2, when that bimbo has to come forward and stand accountable to the American people. McCain's despicable, totally unpatriotic attempt to scam the American public with that ignorant evangelical nutjob is finally going to be exposed.

Then, just maybe we can start some serious attempts to put Humpty back together again. God know he's broken.

It's funny, if Obama actually could find his way to Washington and talked about postponing the debate, you would be saying how patriotic he is, how he puts his country first, what selflessness, and this shows his leadership to run this great country.
You also would be bashing McCain for having a debate with himself, how he should be in Washington doing the first job he was elected to, not the job he wants, President.
Real leaders solve real problems, others hide in Mississippi.

Wow what a liar! McCain was to be on David Letterman today (airs tonight). He called Letterman to cancel apologize that he had to go to the airport to go back to washington. Letterman found out that McCain went on another interview for the news instead. Letterman will air it tonight.

let the debate go on as planned. send that little she-maverick sarah palin to washington to help congress draft the bailout; she is, after all, the one with all of the financial expertise, as exemplified in her running the great state of alaska (into the ground). this would be a great chance for her to prove her critics wrong.

how exactly, does McCain suspending ads and fundraising help the nation focus on the bailout? what the heck does that accomplish? I'm not distracted, and I don't have a role in the bailout. I can follow his ads and the news at the same time. if it overtaxes his brain, he should drop out of the race as unfit to serve.

and the folks doing the work on this haven't asked for his help, haven't suggested that there's any sort of deadlock or problem like the one McCain has invented so he can pretend to be involved in the solution that looks like it's already on the table without him.

what a complete joke the McCain campaign has become.

McCain just told Letterman he couldn't appear on his show because he had to return to Washington to work on the crisis, but he lied to him because he stayed in CBS studios to tape an interview with Couric.

no one on capital hill has asked for his help or perceives any need for it. and since he doesn't know anything about the economy, let alone credit default swaps, he should stay out of it. he's pretending to be bipartisan, above politics and statesmanlike, but he is doing the opposite since he has no role to play and would just muck it up

Now his campaign manager is caught in a lie about being paid by Fannie Mae as late as last month even while they are inventing ties between Obama and Fannie Mae

let the debate go on as planned. send that little she-maverick sarah palin to washington to help congress draft the bailout; she is, after all, the one with all of the financial expertise, as exemplified in her running the great state of alaska (into the ground). this would be a great chance for her to prove her critics wrong.

let the debate go on as planned. send that little she-maverick sarah palin to washington to help congress draft the bailout; she is, after all, the one with all of the financial expertise, as exemplified in her running the great state of alaska (into the ground). this would be a great chance for her to prove her critics wrong.

So, McCain can't walk and chew gum at the same time? Washington says they don't want him there anyway. It seems what this is really about is buying time before Palin has to face Biden, or just getting that debate cancelled.

Indeed: "time outs are for losers!"

It's funny, if Obama actually could find his way to Washington and talked about postponing the debate, you would be saying how patriotic he is, how he puts his country first, what selflessness, and this shows his leadership to run this great country.
You also would be bashing McCain for having a debate with himself, how he should be in Washington doing the first job he was elected to, not the job he wants, President.
Real leaders solve real problems, others hide in Mississippi.

It's funny, if Obama actually could find his way to Washington and talked about postponing the debate, you would be saying how patriotic he is, how he puts his country first, what selflessness, and this shows his leadership to run this great country.
You also would be bashing McCain for having a debate with himself, how he should be in Washington doing the first job he was elected to, not the job he wants, President.
Real leaders solve real problems, others hide in Mississippi.

let the debate go on as planned. send that little she-maverick sarah palin to washington to help congress draft the bailout; she is, after all, the one with all of the financial expertise, as exemplified in her running the great state of alaska (into the ground). this would be a great chance for her to prove her critics wrong.

This is so clearly political gimmickry that it's laughable. All of a sudden, Congressional leaders need to hear from John McCain, a man who claimed to know little about the economy!!! Does he honestly think the electorate is this gullible and stupid? His poll numbers are tanking, so he's trying to appear "Presidential". Sadly, all that he has done is to cement people's opinions of him as one who makes on-the-run, hasty decisions about very complex issues. Same type of thinking lead to his selection of the woefully unqualified Palin as his running mate. This is the type of man we want running this country? God help us all if that were to happen. John, time to retire to your many homes.

This is so clearly political gimmickry that it's laughable. All of a sudden, Congressional leaders need to hear from John McCain, a man who claimed to know little about the economy!!! Does he honestly think the electorate is this gullible and stupid? His poll numbers are tanking, so he's trying to appear "Presidential". Sadly, all that he has done is to cement people's opinions of him as one who makes on-the-run, hasty decisions about very complex issues. Same type of thinking lead to his selection of the woefully unqualified Palin as his running mate. This is the type of man we want running this country? God help us all if that were to happen. John, time to retire to your many homes.

This is so clearly political gimmickry that it's laughable. All of a sudden, Congressional leaders need to hear from John McCain, a man who claimed to know little about the economy!!! Does he honestly think the electorate is this gullible and stupid? His poll numbers are tanking, so he's trying to appear "Presidential". Sadly, all that he has done is to cement people's opinions of him as one who makes on-the-run, hasty decisions about very complex issues. Same type of thinking lead to his selection of the woefully unqualified Palin as his running mate. This is the type of man we want running this country? God help us all if that were to happen. John, time to retire to your many homes.

This is so clearly political gimmickry that it's laughable. All of a sudden, Congressional leaders need to hear from John McCain, a man who claimed to know little about the economy!!! Does he honestly think the electorate is this gullible and stupid? His poll numbers are tanking, so he's trying to appear "Presidential". Sadly, all that he has done is to cement people's opinions of him as one who makes on-the-run, hasty decisions about very complex issues. Same type of thinking lead to his selection of the woefully unqualified Palin as his running mate. This is the type of man we want running this country? God help us all if that were to happen. John, time to retire to your many homes.

Isn't the debate about foreign policy?

What is Obama talking about? I think the country can wait to hear how he is going to disgrace the nation by losing in Iraq on purpose. “I oppose the surge…”

Posted by: Former Marine | September 24, 2008 8:00 PM
------------------------------------------

I think that's true. Looks like the GOP one upped the libs again... to bad.

Obama's Lead just rose to 12%

McCains action is being seen as capitulation.

Obama's Lead just rose to 12%

McCain's action is being seen as capitulation.

Isn't the debate about foreign policy?

What is Obama talking about? I think the country can wait to hear how he is going to disgrace the nation by losing in Iraq on purpose. “I oppose the surge…”

Posted by: Former Marine | September 24, 2008 8:00 PM
------------------------------------------

I think that's true. Looks like the GOP one upped the libs again... to bad.

I think it's an outstanding idea.
Congress NEEDS someone who has stated. "“Even if the economy is the, quote, No. 1 issue, the real issue will remain America’s security, and if they choose to say, ‘Look, I do not need this guy because he’s not as good on home loan mortgages or whatever it is, I understand about that, I will accept that verdict. Someone to tell them "the fundamentals are strong" that there should be no bailouts. Wait. There SHOULD be a bailout.

That kind of leadership is really needed right now in Washington. LOL.

COUNTRY ABOVE POLITICS !!!
Both candidates are U.S. Senators.This financial crisis will be decided in the U.S. SENATE. Currently, the brilliant plan is that after this 7 hundred billion dollar bail out ... Pelosi and Reed will be in charge of picking who will be in charge of ongoing oversight for continued spending. God help us! This is another example of how Senator John McCain puts country first. All Obama cares about is winning the election at any cost. Obama neglected his duties as U.S. Senator before running for President, and especially after he began running for President. This 'bail out - quick fix" will negatively affect Americans for decades. Many of the bloggers who are criticizing McCain for this decision wouldn't recognize responsibility, or integrity if it bit them on the ass. Keep America strong and safe ... Elect McCain/Palin in November.

McCane has demonstrated himself to be such an unstable loon this campaign that every single thing he says or does tests the bounds of reality.

All I can say is that I am SO glad the Democrats went for the unflappable, mature, intelligent, PRESIDENTIAL Barack Obama!

We're in for some very, very rough years ahead, cleaning up the horrendous mess the Republicans and their culture have left us with, but in the hands of President Obama, we will do fine. He will be our F.D.R.

Isn't the debate about foreign policy?

What is Obama talking about? I think the country can wait to hear how he is going to disgrace the nation by losing in Iraq on purpose. “I oppose the surge…”

Posted by: Former Marine | September 24, 2008 8:00 PM
------------------------------------------

I think that's true. Looks like the GOP one upped the libs again... to bad.

Simply stated, McCain is worse than a quitter. If he is afraid to spend 90 minutes stating his case to America, and the world for that matter, why he believes he should be president, then that's proof enough he is unqualified to confront a difficult situation face-to-face.

parrot, oops, I mean 'patrot' wrote:

Did someone actually compare this fiasco to Pearl Harbor?

To which I reply: yes, and it was the most famous value investor of our time, Warren Buffet. This is NOT McCain's choice of metaphor. So why are you trying to make so much hay out fo this? Do you have an ax to grind?

Pay more attention to what we all need to do to prevent this financial crisis from turning into the worst Depression since the 30s.

We are running out of time.

Besides: even Democrats in the Senate have picked up on Buffett's metaphor.

I want someone to assure US that neither Obama or McCain are
wired to any listening devices,

well, other than McCain's hearing aids.

If I wanted Obama to debate Rove, why would I need to have McCain on the stage?

There is more brain power in Obama's camp, by far!

"So if you want change, put both the executive branch and congress under Democratic control, or give both houses of congress veto-proof majorities."

Great idea. Like Biden suggested, let's let the Dems try their political enemies as they've been screeching about for several years. A Dem White House and a Dem Congress means the arrival of American fascism.

Brave McCain ran away.
Bravely ran away, away!
When danger reared its ugly head,
He bravely turned his tail and fled.

Yes, brave McCain turned about
And gallantly he chickened out.
Bravely taking to his feet
He beat a very brave retreat,
Bravest of the brave, Sir John!

He is packing it in and packing it up
And sneaking away and buggering up
And chickening out and pising off home,
Yes, bravely he is throwing in the sponge...

Here's what McCain REALLY said to Bush:

"( . . . heeeeeeelp . . . . )

Cowboy up John???
Attitude like that is what elected Bush TWICE!
Put the Maverick out to pasture

Isn't the debate about foreign policy?

What is Obama talking about? I think the country can wait to hear how he is going to disgrace the nation by losing in Iraq on purpose. “I oppose the surge…”

LennyJazz wrote, "Nader should be in on these debates."

That would be the Nader who stopped production of the most innovative, fuel-efficient GM car of the 1960's, eh?

Isn't that the guy who fell asleep on an airplane with his face against the window and sued the airline because his face felt funny afterward?

Typical of "The One" - ME ME ME ME

The twisted reasoning and the double-standards of the the McCain criticsin these Comments is just amazing!

No, McCain did the right thing, it is Obama who is being sly and partisan. As the Bloomberg news article: "How the Democrats Created the Financial Crisis: " by Kevin Hassett points out, Obama was one of the Deomocrats who resisted sound regulation for Fannie Mae back when it was still timely. Now we are facing the results of his neglect, and he makes this dishonest plea that the President has to be able to do two things at once.

And this really is dishonest: if Obama had done the right thing back then, we would not HAVE this big mess! But now that we DO have it, it really does demand the full attention of the Senate and President -- except that the current President's attention might hurt more than help:(

If Obama really cared about the economy -- as he keeps saying he does -- he really would welcome McCain's invitation, drop everything else, and concentrate on getting a suitable modification of Paulson's original "blank-check" proposal passed THIS WEEK.

It really is that urgent.

what a silly stunt. McCain wants he, Obama and the President to negotiate the deal. who asked him to appoint himself the chief negotiator? since when is Bush leading this anyway? Paulson and Bernanke are busy with the Senate Committee that has jurisdiction, and a bipartisan team of leaders is working on it. McCain just doesn't want to be left out and is insinuating himself into a process that doesn't need any more leadership, let alone his. no one wants him to get in the middle of this by prematurely declaring it in need of his help.

what a joke

Well, why not have Ms. Palin fill in for McCain this Friday
and McCain can fill in for Ms. Palin next week.

We ARE supposed to believe they are interchangeabe, right.

Or maybe we could throw the 4 names in a hat and have which ever two are drawn first debate this Friday.

THE GOP REALLY DOESN'T WANT TO LOSE THEIR POWER.

Look what they are doing to our eonomy.

Shameful

Did someone actually compare this fiasco to Pearl Harbor? Not really! Grab a history book sometime and check something called World War II. This is a disaster, no doubt. But the last time I checked, Bush is still President and no one attacked us last week. McCain keeps forgetting that little nasty detail. Maybe Caribou Barbie can straighten him out, so to speak.

"Mainly, they've listened to a lot of Republican fillibusters, and chafed under a number of presidential vetoes. Next question."

People miss the point on this. Without a supermajority the Democratic majority has to listen to the stupid Republican filibusters and has to accept the presidential vetoes. The result is gridlock. So if you want change, put both the executive branch and congress under Democratic control, or give both houses of congress veto-proof majorities.

Next question.

Normally when you get on a plane, the one like Obama is the pilot, the one like McCain is the funny guy behind making jokes and flirting with the female crew.

I usually take a seat near McCain and have some fun while the pilot brings me safely home.

The reverse may end up being quite problematic.

In the teaching biz this is known as a strategic absence, as in coming down with a whopper of a cough the day of the big exam.

This is BS!...Be a Senator AND debate your opponent.

When they agreed to debate, they knew the economy was already in the toilet, we're fighting two wars! Gimme a break.

War hero McCain is chicken-hearted when it comes
to presidential debates.

Dear Boss,
I can't come into work tomorrow. My representatives, senators need me to solve this crisis. I'm sure you understand.

treetopflyer - Ah yes, "what about the children." Look, one administration (Slick Willy) had no response to multiple terror attacks ('93 World Trade Center, USS Cole, the African embassies, etc.) and set up the Community Reinvestment Act that infected and destroyed the whole system. Who left the US well and truly screwed?

Daman1 wrote, "I hope Bush tells everyone tonight where this scandal started....Clinton, Franklin Raines, Cuomo, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Chuck Schumer. The autopsy on this one is not going to be pleasant for Democrats. Granted there will be a few Republicans too but this is a Democratic cesspool."

You know Daman, I think that's going to be a hard line to sell after 8 years of Republican government, which turned Clinton surpluses and peace into Bush deficits and war.

Good luck.

McCain and Palin are RUNNING scared:
Repubs should be ashamed.
Cowards!

"McCain surrogate Sen. Lindsey Graham tells CNN the McCain campaign is proposing to the Presidential Debate Commission and the Obama camp that if there's no bailout deal by Friday, the first presidential debate should take the place of the VP debate, currently scheduled for next Thursday, October 2 in St. Louis.

In this scenario, the vice presidential debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin would be rescheduled for a date yet to be determined, and take place in Oxford, Mississippi, currently slated to be the site of the first presidential faceoff this Friday."

Uh oh.

North Korea is barring inspectors.
Postpone the debates.

Actually, they are not debates. They are controlled joint appearances with both candidates mouthing basically the same garbage.

Nader should be in on these debates.
Then it would be a debate because an alternative (and deeply American) point of view would be presented.

McBama or O'Cain.
Who cares.

This is truly insane. Andrea is right, McCain wants to bag the Veep Debate now. If our estimates are correct, Bush will address the American people and postpone the election indefintely.

Its not his fault, Cheney is behind it all!

This crap is BAD for the country.

John "Sir Robin" McCain bravely runs away. What, with the hurricanes, economic calamities, and photo-ops with those guys at that building in NYC, the Republicans may be able to pull off never having to show up at anything where people can actually have a chance at hearing something beyond bs sound bites.

I hope Bush tells everyone tonight where this scandal started....Clinton, Franklin Raines, Cuomo, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Chuck Schumer. The autopsy on this one is not going to be pleasant for Democrats. Granted there will be a few Republicans too but this is a Democratic cesspool.

Thanks for making my point.

"Mainly, they've listened to a lot of Republican fillibusters, and chafed under a number of presidential vetoes. Next question."
And yet the Democratic leadership has done nothing! Obama will do nothing! I guess this is the kind of change you all want. A do nothing congress and a do nothing president.

Wasn't it John McCain himself who admitted he really doesn't know jacksquat about economics? So why does he think the Wall Street bailout ballyho needs his guidance? Give me a break. All he's doing is making sure his Bridge to Nowhere gets bailed out.

McCain was never the brightest bulb in the bunch. But now that dementia has obviously set in we must see that he gets into a nice, quiet rest home. Fortunately Arizona is full of them.

I think the whole issue of who loves and hates America should be determined by the shape they leave America in once their time is over (and that goes for the supporters, too). One party left the White House with America at peace, prosperous, with budget surpluses and lower crime and abortion rates. The other party is leaving (most certainly) with America at war, the economy teetering on the verge of collapse, with skyrocketing debt and deficits and higher crime and abortion rates. Plus the Constitution has been assaulted on all fronts, including this latest one. Based on this, who would you say loves and hates America? The one whose kid is all beaten up and starving, or the one whose kid is unbruised and well fed?

Nolo contendere.

"And if we get a Obama White House combined with a Pelosi Congress the state might start doing it for you."

If ... IF! Thanks to you lunatics we're almost assured of it!

If you had told McCain early enough not to pick Kelly Bundy for VP and he had listened, he might have had a chance with the independents. Now there's no chance at all.

You can scream your mutual hatred at the democrats, neither side is going to change their mind nor their numbers. The independents will decide this one.

"Mainly, they've listened to a lot of Republican fillibusters, and chafed under a number of presidential vetoes. Next question.

Posted by: fzdybel | September 24, 2008 7:46 PM"

"The war is lost." "Drilling is a hoax!"

Wow, great leadership. Let's give them the White House, too.

This is an effort to postpone Palin's debate with Biden, plain and simple. Postpone Friday night's debate until October 2 and then postpone the Palin Biden debate to a later unspecified date. This is the latest news.... After watching Palin's interview with Katie Couric tonight, I can see the problem She's worse that I thought. Maybe not quite as teachable as the handlers thought, I reckon. What's going on here?

Look John Boy,

If the debate is just too scary for a tough guy like you, you can always send Sarah. Granted, she's dumber than a rock. But then, you're no rocket scientist, either.

At least she's got some cojones. Maybe she stole yours.

Every day something new. First Gidget gets to play world leader. Now Pop Pop gets to play economics wizard. Boy are WE LUCKY to have a brain like Pop Pop's in Washington solving the CRISIS for us. They better fix this fast because they can't attack Iran with this crap coming down. Maybe tonight the Moron in Chief will say he is anxious to "confer" with Pop Pop about the big CRISIS.

Another day, another political gimmick by the McSame Team. NO leadership. NO plans. NO honor. No Way, No How, No McSame and definitely NO abuse of power Palin!

Cowboy up, John! I like the leadership! Where is Obama in a time of crisis? Preening for the cameras by chance? "Pleeaase debate me". McCain will clean Obama's clock whenever they end up debating. Barry is a fraud.

Someone needs to remind McCain that he is not president. George Bush holds that office until January. McCain is clueless on the economy and would be useless, if not a hinderance in the sort of session he is suggesting.He has missed so many votes that one more will make no difference. He and Palin make Bush/Cheney look wonderful and if anything can give Bush a great legacy it would be that pair in the White House.

"What have you Democrat's done in the two years you have been in control? "

Mainly, they've listened to a lot of Republican fillibusters, and chafed under a number of presidential vetoes. Next question.

Thank you everyone. I am always happy to share my wisdom on substantial matters.

so john mccain, who knows jack sh*t about the economy, is essential to getting this bailout bill passed? laughable. nice stunt.

Whoah! Straight out of a 60's cartoon. Magoo's campaign is coming unhinged. All that is left for the national press to drop the other shoe about Caribou Barbie's malfeasance, and it is GG!

"McCain may not want to debate financial stuff right now is my guess."

Oh no. This particular debate was to have been about international relations. No, the problem here is that Caribou Barbie's debate tutors have given her an "F." She's not ready to lead, it seems, despite all declamations to the contrary. Hence the proposal to bump the veeps from their time slot next week to make room for a postponed debate.

What have you Democrat's done in the two years you have been in control? Barney Frank was asleep at the wheel of the House financial Service committee.
Wait, Frank is Bushes fault, after all, its his fault the dems took control and appointed do nothing types in charge to watch.
It funny, even the comments here don't say what obama is going to do, instead you all follow the party line of telling what others are doing wrong but not about how you will solve any problems
God save us from Obama and the Dems!

"To David Astroturf:
We don't want to talk to you....You are not welcome at the table of rebuilding our nation.
Posted by: Shawn | September 24, 2008 7:39 PM"

LOL, no kidding. Again, thanks to another leftist for proving and highlighting my points. You hate-drenched psychopaths are about an inch away from murdering people who disagree with you. And if we get a Obama White House combined with a Pelosi Congress the state might start doing it for you.

Now, McCain wants the VP date called off, that's what this is about.
Why can't the man do more than one thing at a time? HE'S NOT ON THE COMMITTEE, BANKING AND FINANCE, AND

**HE HASN'T BEEN IN WASHINGTON SINCE APRIL**

NOW HE'S RUNNING BACK, FOR WHAT? THEY DON'T WANT HIM THERE, THERE'S NOTHING FOR HIM TO DO, EXCEPT WAIT AND VOTE ON THE LEGISLATION!!!

THATS BECAUSE PALIN TANKED ON HER CBS INTERVIEW...SHE COULDNT GIVE KATIE A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF WHAT MCCAIN HAS REFORMED!!

IS SHE COULD MEET WITH THE NEO-CON PUPPET LEADER SET AND BONO THEN THEY CAN DEBATE.

Andrea, YOU gotta be kidding me! Stop it, your killing me! LoL - What next, McCain calls for election to be postponed indefintely?

This is TOO MUCH!

LoL

Am I the only one who sees Obama's explanation for not going back to Washington to solve this "immediate" problem as political doublespeak. He says that a President must be able to "multi-task." Does this mean that when Pearl Harbor was attacked that President Roosevelt should not have cancelled other events to address the "immediate" crisis. Look, Obama and McCain can always debate later on next week, the public is not concerned about their debate as much as this immediate "crisis." One of these guys is going to have this problem on his hands within 40 days and it behooves both of them to have a 'hands-on" policy to ensure what comes out of congress is something that is for the good of the nation. If this is a portend of the Obama presidency, look for a disengaged President who hands off the ball to subordinates because he does not have the guts to get into the fight.

Cancelling the campaign is a great opening act for cancelling the election.

Don't put it past Bush to do that.

Ofcourse McSame wants to postpone the debate! He has a tainted campaign manager who has been accepting 15,000 per month from Fannie/Freddie. Caught red-handed with their hand in the cookie jar while preaching something else on the campaign trail. Unfortunately, someone who is vying for the highest office in the land should know that ***t happens! McSame is showing his weakness. Time-outs are for LOSERS!!!

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada had a similar reaction. "It would not be helpful at this time to have them 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," Reid said. "If that changes, we will call upon them. We need leadership; not a campaign photo op."

How Odd yesterday Mr. Reid said:
Fearing a political backlash against Democrats, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has told the White House that it must serve up support from Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) if it hopes to ensure bipartisan backing for a massive economic bailout package by week's end.

Full article here: http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/12288264/c_12287342?f=home_todayinfinance

And then this.
NEW YORK -- The financial crisis on Wall Street overwhelmed the 2008 presidential race today, as Republican presidential nominee John McCain this afternoon said he would suspend his presidential campaign tomorrow to return to Washington to work on the proposed $700 billion bailout plan. Democratic rival Barack Obama declined to follow suit, saying he would return only if congressional leaders requested his presence and said there was no reason to suspend the campaign or delay Friday night's presidential debate.

I guess Mr. Reid did not request Obama's presence. Guess Reid knew Obama's vote of present and lack of bill writing experience coupled with his inability to cross party lines to get any thing done would be a draw back.

But McCain showing up has blocked the Democrats from getting out of DODGE before getting any work done.

Well Mr. Reid you asked for it you got it now deal with it. McCain is coming to work and you can't leave until you get some work done for the people.

C
O
W
A
R
D
!

OR, it's all a scam to cancel the VP debate which is understandable considering their nominee. LOL!

Obama...always trying to politicize everything for his own interest. What a selfish egotistical nobody!

McCain's had 26 years to "fix" the government. If he's so full of angst over this "crisis" why isn't he in Washington NOW. This is a joke!!! Could this be anything but posturing??? This is a tactic. Nothing more. Now that Caribou Barbie has lost her shine, he needed another gimmick. Reminds me of Gypsy Rose Lee: You gotta have a gimmick.

***UPDATE**********
McCain campaign is calling for the VP debate to be called off, I AM NOT JOKING!

McCain wants a time out. Time outs are for children who can't get their acts together. McCain is looking more and more like a joke. The man is unfit to lead. He needs to be put to pasture, and he can take Palin with him. Obama is dead on correct when he says a president needs to be able to handle more than one problem. You don't get to put the world on hold.

If you were Senator McCain, would you consider giving immediate attention to this financial crisis MORE IMPORTANT than staging an unrelated debate on foreign policy with the empty headed Barack Obama who relies on a teleprompter and is dependent on the ideas of others?

Miss Hogynist - That's what you've been saying about Bush for EIGHT YEARS. Remember?

I'm sure there's some POW/Hanoi Hilton excuse that explains all of this.

McCain the tough guy wimps out of an hour and a half debate. And Sarah Mooseburger won't answer any questions. And half the public still supports these frauds.

Why not just suspend it indefinitely? Or, better yet, assign Palin the task of debating against Obama, a person who doesn't have have as much experience as Palin doe?

McCAIN CAMP WANTS TO POSTPONE VP DEBATE

John McCain's campaign now wants to suspend the VP debate?

CNN's Dana Bash reports that McCain officials are "trying to negotiate with the Obama campaign and the presidential debate commission" to change next Thursday's planned vice presidential debate into a McCain-Obama affair. The VP debate would be postponed to another date.

"That is what they are proposing," Bash reported. "[McCain officials] understand very well that both the Obama campaign and the debate commission have no intention of delaying Friday's debate, but...if there is no bailout deal by Friday, McCain has no plan to go to debate."

==========

Now the "real reason" comes out!

To David Astroturf:

We don't want to talk to you. YOU are killing our country. Look what your "leadership" has accomplished! You are the true enemies of America, and have done more to hurt us than terrorists ever could.

Your entire worldview has been dumped into the "distbin of history" where it belongs.

You are not welcome at the table of rebuilding our nation.

Now McSame wants to postpone the VP debate, too.

You can't make this stuff up.

DavidAstroturf,
"all egged on by the most left-wing, biased, dishonest media in American history.
All of these hate-filled lunatics lined up together and in power. THAT…is scary.
If you think things are bad now, you ain’t seen nothing yet."

I don't know which country's newspapers you have been reading, but in America, the MSM are strongly RIGHT-biased, simply because they are owned by strong right-wing supporters.

The current support for Obama is just the logical result of there being no plausible excuses left for the GOP to hide behind.
The media have been FORCED by events to acknowledge the truth, after seven and a half years of the same denial in which Bush and his fellow freaks are still stuck.
If you think things might get bad with Obama, get back to me after four years if McCain wins (I can't even believe I just wrote that), and tell me how that is working for you.

Or are you just one of those trolls the Internet is always warning people to stay away from?

VAvoter - On our knees is where you want all of your political opponents. A Dem president combined with a Dem Congress will mean political show trials reminiscent of Red China in the '60's. The new Democratic Party combined with the one-party, leftist American media equals pure, unvarnished fascism.

David Astroturf wrote, "There is no hope for dialogue with the left. None. You are America-hating psychopaths who sometime soon are going to begin murdering people who disagree with you. Especially if Jesus Obama loses."

I think it's more likely that, if John McCain is elected, the 2012 presidential election will be cancelled due to some national emergency.

Rick Davis threw another "Flash Bang Grenade" I told you in previous post that he would do this. Here is the reason for todays grenade.

NEW YORK TIMES 9/24/08

"...The disclosure undercuts a remark by Mr. McCain on Sunday night that the campaign manager, Rick Davis, had had no involvement with the company for the last several years...

"....As president of the Homeownership Alliance, Mr. Davis received $30,000 to $35,000 a month. He, along with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, have characterized the alliance as a coalition of many housing industry and consumer groups to promote homeownership, but numerous current and former officials at both companies say the companies created and bankrolled the operation to combat efforts by competitors to rein in their business. The companies dissolved the group at the end of 2005 as part of cost-cutting in the wake of accounting scandals and, at Freddie Mac, a lobbying scandal that forced out its top Republican lobbyist....

On Monday, the McCain campaign attacked The Times for its account of those payments to Mr. Davis, saying the paper was “150 percent in the tank” for Mr. Obama. Mr. Davis said that he had worked not for the two companies but for the advocacy group, which included other organizations as well and, he said, was focused only on promoting homeownership....

..After the Homeownership Alliance was dissolved, Mr. Davis asked to stay on a retainer, the people familiar with the deal said. Hollis McLoughlin, who was chief of staff to Richard F. Syron, Freddie Mac’s chief executive, arranged for a new contract with Davis Manafort at the reduced rate of $15,000 a month, they said..."

The unintended victim is...well, remember George F. Will's comment "McCain has lost his head"

LIARS never seem to tire of justifying McCain's stances. They've helped bullies in suits rip this country off for the last eight years with everything from "national security" to "the fundamentals are solid." Liars always, always, always recognize and support one of their own. No matter what Obama suggests or posits, you can count on McCain's lying supporters to rip into whatever Obama says just because he's not (a) a Republican, and (b) a white male.

I guess this country's going to rip itself in two rather than listen to an intelligent African-American candidate.

Yes we need an expeditious solution, however, we need to understand the Candidates' positions and ideas for the next four years. We cannot keep relying on ads or media reports, we need to have some information to help us vote!

In his desperate attempts to appear DECISIVE! and SHOW LEADERSHIP! McCain just looks more and more the doddering old fool.

He has lost all credibility.

"...don't you want congress to fix the confidence in our monetary system...?"

Oh dear. There goes another one. I mean another former small government enthusiast, who now desperately wants Congress to fix everything and make his portfolio okay again.

TRICK TO POSTPONE PALIN DEBATE!!!

(CNN) — McCain supporter Sen. Lindsey Graham tells CNN the McCain campaign is proposing to the Presidential Debate Commission and the Obama camp that if there's no bailout deal by Friday, the first presidential debate should take the place of the VP debate, currently scheduled for next Thursday, October 2 in St. Louis.

In this scenario, the vice presidential debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin would be rescheduled for a date yet to be determined, and take place in Oxford, Mississippi, currently slated to be the site of the first presidential faceoff this Friday.

Graham says the McCain camp is well aware of the position of the Obama campaign and the debate commission that the debate should go on as planned — but both he and another senior McCain adviser insist the Republican nominee will not go to the debate Friday if there's no deal on the bailout.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/24/mccain-camp-to-propose-postponing-vp-debate/

Thats the thing about Iran... They don't hold of making Yellow Cake Uranium for nuclear bombs and launching test missles just because the US is in a state of internal fincial turmoil... If anything, that energises them... You would think its important for a president to be able to handle many serious issues in one week, why can't McCain?

Do you want a president that uses tactics like this? He has a Chartered Jet and he can't come to DC to vote and speak on Wednesday and Thursday, even Friday morning, then make it back by Friday for the debate? I could drive there myself for cryin out loud?!?

Sheltering a 3 week old VP pick from the press and from outside the circle interviews? You're supposed to elect them now that they've tried to dodge this debate we've waited so long for?

Cmon... Seriously. If you fear black people that much, you should move to Alaska, you'd probably like it there, Palin will still be there for you to idolize next year and the Klan is at the gator lodge waiting for you to come to dinner.

As for McCain, this is completely spineless and underhanded, and its media manipulation to the highest degree once again... Imagine how he will deal with issues you face in "Outlaw Bush Term 3[tm]"? Now he's a public liar and a cheat... McCain thinks you [The American People] are stupid, vote for him and prove him right, don't vote and prove him right, 75% chance of misery!!

VOTE OBAMA.

McCain doesn,t know how to keep track of things,how on earth is he going to remember the important things if he is elected read this big flub-up by his side today:
http://coloradoindependent.com/9151/oops-colorado-mccain-camp-sends-internal-e-mail-to-reporters

Hey David Astroturf:

Your rant reflects the typical right-wing lunatic stupidity that is almost entirely responsible for the meltdown of this country.

YOU hate America if you want to continue off a cliff. You failed. You are killing America, and we reject you and your mock patriotism.

Down with the Republicans and up with America! We want our county back, freaks.

Posted by: Shawn
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Well said. We are NOT going to let these America haters pretend to be patriots. Facts are facts. They had 8 years and look what they've done! They should be on their knees apologizing to the American people who love this nation.

Daman1 wrote, "Thank God at least Sen. McCain cares enough to put country first. I hope he calls for the immediate investigation (jailing?) of Schumer, Dodd, Barney Frank and Franklin Raines, the perps in this scandal. They raped Fannie and Freddie (and why has Obama gotten so much money for Fannie and Freddie in only 2 years???)."

This would be the McCain who wants to fire the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and replace him with Andrew Cuomo, right?

When he was Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Andrew Cuomo was the person directly responsible for overseeing Fannie Mae - and the person directly responsible for ordering Fannie into the subprime market.

Mario Cuomo I like a lot. Andrew, who now makes his living nailing scalps to his wall for doing the sort of thing he did to Fannie, not so much.

And McCain, not at all.

The "DECIDER" will ask DIck Cheney what to do.

When he gets "THE PLAN" he will tell McCain.

Then, at the "meeting" W will offer a DIFFERENT PLAN.

McCain will argue against W's PLAN and offer up what is the REAL CHENEY PLAN.

IF Obama were there, he would disagree, and get steamrolled.

Then they will adopt the "MCCAIN PLAN" and say "Oh! He's so wise!"

So McCain will get kudos and props for what CHENEY DICTATED ALL ALONG.. AND THE BEST PART?

JUST AS CHENEY DICTATES:
Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency.

AMERICA TAKES IT ON THE CHIN. OUR CONSTITUTION IS GARBAGE.

BUT - Here's the real NEWS: CHENEY IS ABOUT TO MOBILIZE AN ARMY REGIMENT AGAINST THE PEOPLE.

SO WHAT'S DEAD?
1. Habeas Corpus
2. Posse Comitatus
3. The Constitution
4. Thousands of protesting U.S. Citizens, reacting to the theft of the election.

.....aaaand it's over. Let's just cancel the election and McCain can take a nap.

McCain should be able to find the time for the debate, working around helping to save the country from financial ruin - multi-task, you're going to be President, right?

McCain may not want to debate financial stuff right now is my guess.

I think we are all missing the tactic behind this decision. I was just listening to David Gregory and that Jean(?)woman that took Carly Fiorina's place just said that McCain would not debate unless this bill is passed. So here we have it. The Administration wants this bill passed tomorrow and McC doesn't want this economy thing to be dragged out ( because he's better at lipstick on a pig campaigning). That is what this is about. The administration has been doing all they can to get this passed by tomorrow and this just appears to be the latest tactic. It just so happens McC would benefit if we quit talking about this bailout.

McCain has admitted that the economy is not his strongest area. He does not sit on the committee that is working on this issue. His "expertise" is neither needed nor wanted in hammering out the details. On the other hand, we need the debates - we need to see what the candidates have to say. If McCain is President will he say that he can't deal with international crisis A because we have domestic crisis B to deal with. I'd love to see Obama show up for the debate and McCain not be there.

Shawn - Thanks for proving and underlining my points. There is no hope for dialogue with the left. None. You are America-hating psychopaths who sometime soon are going to begin murdering people who disagree with you. Especially if Jesus Obama loses.

Is this a joke?

Now McCain is trying to "postpone" the VP debate? Republicans are stupid, but not even they can buy into this charade.

They are SCARED to go head-to-head against Obama/Biden!

mc ca

To Dianne 72
I appreciate your valuable input into this debate. A mind is a terrible thing to waste! But you might not know this.

Note: . .

1)Both Paulson and Bernankie were appointed by George W. Bush -- beware of the Bush-wack.

2) McCain is all about gietie-up hurry-up. Watch the Tenderfoot who is so quick to shoot from the hip will bring some change to the program -- but not much. . . . . He will stay close to the GOP herd.

3) Some of our Nations top economists are urging us to go slow, not hurry-up.

Seriously, folks - McCain by his own admission "do[es]n't know much about the economy." Now suddenly it is absolutely crucial for him to be in Washington to weigh in on a bailout package that obviously so desperately needs his expertise? You'd think he and he alone held the answer to all our problems, and that if he doesn't get to Washington to present it we'll all DIE, DIE! Is there anyone here who was asking, "Where's McCain? When's he going to save us? Where is this last, best hope of our financial system? Come to Washington, McCain, before it's too late!"

To quote an ex-president:

GIVE - ME - A BREAK!!!

He's clearly afraid of debating Barack. Barack is a Ferrari, John McCain is a horse and buggy.

Damn. McCain chickened the hell out of the debate and used this financial mess as an excuse because he didn't want to get criticized on national television about knowing anything more on the economy. Man. and everyone See's it for what it is.

Hes a wet fart of a coward. OBAMA should go on and talk to the nation one on one. Don't need McCain.

How much time would McCain need to come up with a solution to fire Hank Paulson?

Now if only he could come up with a way to put Bush/Cheney in front of a firing squad!

COWARD. There's not enough lipstick in the world for this

Mccain is just one crazy loon.

First the Palin Hail Mary. That has fizzled as the economy has tanked.

Now he's off to D.C. to rescue Bush?

McCain was at the center of this nations' last financial debacle, the savings and loan bailout, remember? He was the one on the inside> He should have resigned in disgrace back then. But instead he continues to hold on for dear life.

It's over, Johnny.

Please, will someone get McCain to a rest home where he belongs.

Call off the election! Call in the Supreme Court - let them decide once again. In the unlikely event that they NOT decide for Mr. McCain then he can call for a “do over”. This smacks of caviling cowardice unbecoming an officer and gentleman, to say nothing of a supposedly straight talking war hero. What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive! He has strayed so far from the “straight talk express” that he lacks any credibility whatsoever. A once upright maverick has mortgaged his soul to Mephistopheles and is facing spiritual foreclosure. While he’s apparently lost all sense of honor must he lose all sense of shame in the process? What a conniving codger he is!!!

I'm so sorry that there probably won't be a debate on Friday, now you will have to spend time with your wives instead.
Why is everything politically motivated, don't you want congress to fix the confidence in our monetary system, so that banks will loan money to business, students, car buyers.
Remember, it was Obama who ran away from Mccains offer to do up to 10 townhall and debates. Were you calling oboma chicken then...

I think Senator McCain's suggestion is bizarre and irresponsible. At this level, you just don't get "timeouts." Whoever cancels debates that have been scheduled for some time? Sitting presidents, busy as they always are, have long agreed to hold debates, so why can't a candidate keep his commitment to do so? McCain's suggestion isn't statesmanlike; it is absurd to the point where I almost question his fitness to run. Moreover, pretending to be "above politics" during a political campaign is the worst sort of political scam. Not that both parties haven't been guilty of it on occasion, but the timing here is way out of line. I've also just read that the McCain people are also trying to put off the veep debate, which, if it's true, would be even more bizarre. But that needs verification.

EPIC FAIL GOP!

McCain now suggests postponing the VP debate and having the Presidential Debate next week. This could cost Ole Miss 5.5 million dollars. This is all a PLOY to prevent Sarah Palin from speaking to the public.

Hey David Astroturf:

Your rant reflects the typical right-wing lunatic stupidity that is almost entirely responsible for the meltdown of this country.

YOU hate America if you want to continue off a cliff. You failed. You are killing America, and we reject you and your mock patriotism.

Down with the Republicans and up with America! We want our county back, freaks.

McCHICKEN goes QUACK QUACK QUACK

jt: Poor thing. Using a right wing rant in support of whatever your position is (you obviously don't have one of your own), is so sad. McCain is a joke. I can just see McCain and his handlers huddling in their hotel room coming up with this little ploy in attempt to manipulate Obama and at the same time appear to be the savior of our economy. I love Republicans: They create the disasters and then they want credit when they are rescued. It's amazing. With 8 years of George Bush, the electorate is not quite as gullible as they used to be. And, by the way, don't you suppose that the "crisis" is already in the last stages of management? Come on. It's a done deal. Now that's a real fact. McCain is too late. He wanted the deregulation and he got it. It due to McCain and his party that we have this bailout. Yeah. Let the market fix it. Sure.

This is a pure politically motivated move by McCain. does he think he is a superhero....and now.....the continuing adventures of Economy Man...

I am totally floored...does anyone else see this for what it is... a ploy

i was undecided...now i am voting for Obama

I love watching the cut-and-paste desperate comments some of your GOP wingnuts trot out. You're like the borg.

Look John Boy,

If the debate is just too scary for a tough guy like you, you can always send Sarah. Granted, she's dumber than a rock. But then, you're no rocket scientist, either.

At least she's got some cojones. Maybe she stole yours.

McCain is all bark and no bite. He talks tough but runs from the fight.

Good, at least now McCain will have to explain his free market principles. And explain what would have happened if Bush's ploy to privitize social security had been successful.

The guy knows he falling in the polls and that he's on the wrong side of this issue. Obama can just quote his previous statements about the economy all night.

What a pathetic attempt. Funny thing is that most Americans see it just for what it is. He must have re-hired the fools who were running his campaign when he was tanking during the primary.

Late breaking news:

Charles Keating and Michael Milken have agreed to suspend sunning themselves in Aruba in order to rush to the nation's capital in an effort to solve the financial crisis.

So now CNN is reporting that McCain's camp wants to postpone the first debate until October 2nd--the date of the VP debate. And that they want to move the VP debate to a later (as yet unspecified) date.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! EPIC FAIL GOP!

As soon as things aren't going his way, McCain wants to call a timeout. FREAKING PATHETIC.

And to top it off he is willing to bring his freakshow circus of a campaign to Washington and screw around with the most important legislation in a generation.

McCain is willing to throw our economy under the bus in or to win an election. MCCAIN HAS NO HONOR.

I have been looking at both candidates carefully for a long time. I leaned towards McCain because of his experience, but I liked Sen. Obama's vision for this nation. I now know, Sen. McCain can't handle a crisis. This is clearly a political stunt, and I won't fall for it. My vote is going to Sen. Obama.

I think he is allowed to call him a chicken at this point.

A comment worth sharing;

Our Troops Don't Get a Time-Out for the Financial Crisis

Jon Soltz

So, because there's a financial crisis, Senator McCain cannot take 90 minutes to address how he will face challenges around the world, including how and when he will send American troops to fight, and possibly die.

Wow. Troops would sure love that luxury.

Unfortunately, though, insurgents in Iraq don't stop shooting at us, or setting IEDs, because our Commander in Chief needs a breather to figure out Wall Street.

Al Qaeda in the Afghanistan/Pakistan border region don't send our troops notes that read, "Hey, I hear you guys are tied up with Wall Street. Your President needs to concentrate on other things, so we'll give you a break. So, to make things easier on you, here's our coordinates."

Nor do our troops get a few days to figure out how to hold onto an area we've secured, if there's an unexpected attack. Sometimes we need to deal with multiple flare-ups at once in any warzone. We'd sure love a time-out, but sadly, the world isn't such a nice place that it gives us that kind of pity.

When you're Commander in Chief, I don't think there'd be a worse signal to send to our troops in harm's way than to say, "Hey, hold on guys. I know you're getting killed over there, but I have to get a time-out here to deal with Wall Street."

If troops need to multi-task without a break, is it so wrong that we demand that a potential President-in-waiting prove that he can manage a financial crisis, and still address crises around the world for 90 minutes? And, if a potential President-to-be can't manage that, is it wrong to think that maybe he ought not just suspend a debate and the campaign, but move aside and get out of the race?

Just something to think about.

Crossposted at VetVoice.com

Dianne72 - is that your IQ?

It's easy for McCain to TALK about giving up campaigning in order to deal with a problem which concerns Americans.
It's quite another actually to do something which would help us.

It's pretty obvious that the man has no intention of giving up anything at all.
He is certainly not giving up campaigning.
This IS his campaign - a cynical vote-scrounging ploy, just like Bush and his Katrina photo-ops.

Quite apart from the fact that McCain has every reason to fear a confrontation with Obama after the failure of his inane choice of V.P. nominee.
I'd run away too, if I landed in the same excrement in which he has landed.

It looks more like a delay for Palin. McCain wants next Thursday for The Presidental Debates, and move Palins debate with Biden to a later date. Truth be known I'm sure McCain is feeling a little unprepared as well. I find it so very weird That Palin is allowed to attend the UN meeting, but won't meet the press. Last Sunday it was, Kissinger, Albright, Powell, Baker, and I can't remember the last one who said they felt Palin was not experienced enough to handle VP, or becoming President. Especially with the serious condition that the American citizens are facing, and the global turmoil occurring. It's obvious to me this woman will do anything to stay away from interviews. Why? The republicans have made a big enough mess, and it's time to put the Democrats into office, and get the diplomacy starting with truth, and addressing the issues that have been ignored for the past 8 years. We need to earn the respect back in our Nation, and say we have had enough of this Party. McCain cannot even be original. He has to steal Obama's campaign slogans. Pathetic. I heard about "Change" and "Enough" way before mcCain took it a few days later. McCain/Palin are two of the strangest candidates I've ever encountered.

Thank God at least Sen. McCain cares enough to put country first. I hope he calls for the immediate investigation (jailing?) of Schumer, Dodd, Barney Frank and Franklin Raines, the perps in this scandal. They raped Fannie and Freddie (and why has Obama gotten so much money for Fannie and Freddie in only 2 years???).

If this were the John McCain that ran in 2000, I would believe him. But after all his lies, shennanigans, and idiotic statements in the last few days, and seeing how obvious he is being controlled the freaks in the right, this is nothing more than cowardice.

He's sinking in the polls, Palin is beginning to smell like a tird for hiding from the press, and now this stunt.
No McChicken, No Failin.

I’ll tell you what is truly, legitimately scary.

America is looking at the very real prospect of Barack Obama as president - a man aligned with domestic terrorists like Ayers and Dohrn, whose campaign is being run from the playbook of a fascist rioter like Saul Alinksy, who is managed by David Axelrod and George Soros (who’s stated openly that he wants to cripple America) and who had Jeremiah Wright as a “spiritual advisor” for twenty years, a man full of racial hatred who loathes America.

Add to that a vindictive and bitter Pelosi Congress, a Vice President (Biden) calling for the criminal prosecution of the current president, hate-filled borderline insane lefty partisans running the Democratic Party who threaten violence and speak frankly of prosecuting political opponents, all egged on by the most left-wing, biased, dishonest media in American history.

All of these hate-filled lunatics lined up together and in power. THAT…is scary.

If you think things are bad now, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

John McChicken-he's behind in the polls and can't take the heat. His running mate won't talk to the press. Neither of these two people are fit to lead.

How can the (D) and Obama the head of there party say one day that this is such a big economic issue for the country right now, but then not want to hold his campaign for a couple of days to do what he is paid to do as a senator of Illinois. Instead he'd rather "talk about it" give a joint statement about it. Now come on I thought everyone was about action. By the way the debate the all (D) think McCain is scared of is on the topic of foreign policy and national security. Wow I guess McCain should be scared of that topic. More action less Talk - Independent Voter

McCain is calling for a "postponement" without a new date for the debate. In other words, an indefinite postponement.

From this we may conclude that McCain probably won't find time to let Obama slaughter him in a debate withing the remaining 40 days before the election.

So McCain isn't really "postponing" the debate, he is canceling it.

Word on the street is that McCain was a spoiled little coward who sang link a canary for the North Vietnamese. Watching McCain duck tail and run from Obama sort of confirms this image for me.

Beyond all the other points made here, what exactly does a senator who by his own admission doesn't know much about the economy hope to be able add to the current debate on the bailout package? The best he can hope for is to take credit for somebody else's idea and make sure his picture's taken with the people who are actually doing the work on this. McCain's the jock who just discovered computer nerds are cool, so he's busting into the lab offering all sorts of "help" trying to impress the "girls" (voters), while the geeky kids with glasses and pimples are trying to shoo him away because he's interfering with the development of the next killer app. Give it up, McLame. Face the public and admit to them you don't have what it takes - that when the 3 AM call comes you'll fire someone, try to do their job and then wonder why nothing works.

Last week McCain was saying the "fundamentals of the economy are strong". Now he has to shut down his campaign (right after he meets with Lady de Rothschild, Katie Bell Couric and the prime minister of India) to return to Washington where he has not cast a vote in 5 months. What a political stunt. McCain gets my vote, though, for running the "Most Gimmicky" campaign in the history of presidential politics.

Mr. McCain,
We do not need you....
not in the White House, not in the debates, not at all.

Go home and cry
like the little girl you've become.

I can hear O'bamajinedad now:

"It's not fair. He should uh,uh...debate with me Friday. He... uhh...he can't help Washington with the...uh...the...the, uhh..situation we're, ya know, that we're facing right now. It's...uh...it's just not fair."

I want to commend McCain for understanding that his JOB is as a senator and his ambition is as the President. Do your job first. Why doesn't Obama do his? He wasn't planning to even vote again on this issue like he didn't on so many before.

You would think both Senators would want to go to Washington and handle the business of what they were elected to do. The "Bad News" Bores of the Obama camp have given him some bad advice, and that is, to say someting stupid like "call me if you need me". Or maybe, the Obama camp is afraid for Obama to actrually commit to a vote and speak in front of the Senate and state their position once and for all.
So, Obama looks helpless and avoiding responsibility, as usual, and then do his hindsight criticism of someone else's vote.
The empty suit!

Proud of Obama saying no to McCain latest tricks out of the bag. McCain only has one vote (I hope) and the is any indication, he has abused that one. Twenty six years of working against the best behalf of the American people can't help us now just playing pretending lip service with the people feeling. The last great big lie was about Davis(Sunday) and willing to lay his hand on the Koran by it until Monday when new information surface to the public. Is this the type of man the people need in Washington? More lies of the same.

Obama is a fraud.

When a crisis arrives, Obama wants to stage an unrelated debate (or vote "present").

McCain wants to act!

McCain is a leader.

McCain has America's priorities in order.

Obama does not.

Obama said, "Call me if you need me."

Obama is a follower, not a leader.

John McCain cant chew gum and handle the economy at the same time. Sarah Paliin cant chew gum and handle an interview at the same time. What a joke!

OMG--what a bunch of KOOL AID DRINKERS you GOP wingnuts have become!

Guess McChicken can't get a message together.

Good for Obama to forge ahead.

I hope that McChicken doesn't show up, an empty chair would speak volumes that this guy is totally incompetent and tone deaf.

OBAMA/BIDEN 08

Talk about playing defense, LOL! Neither Mc Goo nor his trailer trash VP will put themselves out there before the American people. Could it be because they are dropping in the polls and know that they will just embarrass themselves?

If you want to be president, you have to be willing to debate your opponent and answer questions from the media.

These two GOP nitwits should just concede right now.

McCain puts America first, obama put himself first...if it's not good for obama it's not good for obama...and we can't have that...

"It never occurs to them that McCain in concerned about our country's future, after he's dead and gone."

Truly it is said, actions speak louder than words. McCain's last big legacy to the future was Caribou Barbie. I could give a fig for his concern for the future of this country.

I thought this first debate was between John McCain, Republican Senator and John McCain, presidential candidate running on a Democratic platform and away from Bush as fast as he can.

Once he decides who he is, we can decide if we're going to vote for him or not.

They can always stand in a cardboard cutout and mike it like they did with Bush 4 years ago. No need to hide it under his suit coat, just duct tape it to the cutout of McCain.

So Sen. McCain wants to show up in Washington for the first time in months, declare himself the leader, and dictate terms to Sen. Obama and everyone else who has been working on the problem?

That's Bush-style leadership for you.

I work for my city's Humane Society, and I know dog tricks. McCain is not necessarily trying to dodge a debate with Obama. His strategy is for Palin to dodge a debate with Biden. If you push back the Presidential debate into the VP's debate, you give Palin more time. I believe that McCain is seeing that all of this is very overwhelming for Palin, and it's a lot to ask for her to get up to speed so fast. I really feel sorry for her.

Teach, umm...I ain't my term paper isn't done for Friday's deadline.
Could I have an extension? Please.

Remember, this bozo was something like 695 outta 700* in in his
college class rank.

And his opponent is a University of Chicago Law School Prof.

Maybe McCain can convince Sarah to sub for him.

*numbers are approximate

My fellow Americans and ladies and genlemen. McSame is at it again. with his uncontrollable temperament. If you are losing the game and have no chance of winning; you can either try to change the rule in the middle of the game or simply quit. WHAT A SORE LOSER! MCBush has no answer for the current economic fiasco and he has seen his popularity suffers. Therefore, he did what a decent loser would do, quit! My fellow Americans, is this the guy you want to be your president? God help us all.

The only response any sensible American should give; if and when ask for opinion on McLiar’s latest action; simly say: RUN JOHNNY RUN.

Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Frank, it's time for you to stop blaming Bush, and solve the problem. You can debate another day, but the economy is more important than a debate.
Obama is not change, just part of the old, do nothing congress.

I assume from your racist comment that you mean to disparage Obama. Unfortunately, that's precisely the point. Even hardcore Repubs like my brother are outraged by this stunt because they expected McCain to do very well Friday. Thinking Republicans are mystified and furious. Can't wait to read George Will's and Richard Cohen's next columns.

Posted by: abqcleve | September 24, 2008 7:11 PM

Here we go, the Obama supporters who say anything that when someone who is opposed to Senator Obama says anything against Obama is a racist.

I am against Senator Obama because he is a liar (fact),he believes in marxism (fact),he considers terrorists friends (fact), and he believes in letting babies who have been born alive after an abortion that it is okay to let them die (fact). That is why I am against Obama.

How is Obama's "fuzzy" head considered racist? Fuzzy is fuzzy...

McCain is a total coward. The chips are down, so he's taking a time out to regroup. It's so transparent. Just goes to show there's no crisis a Republican won't exploit. Is this really a guy you could trust as president. A president should be able to juggle more than one ball, even though I realize we're not accustomed to that with Bush. Obama looks far more presidential. Obama is right when he says this is the time when Americans need to hear from the candidates. I totally agree.

So who is Obama "the wonderful" going to debate? I guess he can stand up there and give a press conference or something about his vast foreign policy experience. Who gives a HOOT about this foreign policy debate anyway until this financial crisis is over - Obama does "only" because McCain is going back to do his "real job" in Washington and Obama has to "not appear" to be following McCain's lead. What a joke Obama is - always checking the political wind and NEVER putting the country first!! Of course since Obama has never really done ANYTHING anyway in congress (expect run for president) not having him there now won't make any difference. Obama is THE WORST excuse for a presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter. For crying out loud Obama, go back to Washington and do your job FOR ONCE!!!!

The desperation in the McCain supporters here today is clear, and loud.

You know Rove wouldn't have made this kind of decision lightly ... I meant McCain of course.

Rove is a calculator, he adds up the benefits vs the consequences and makes his move. He has to know how this is going to look to the independents (me) ... so this is the best stop-loss he could come up with at this time.

It sure does look like the end for McCain doesn't it? Well, he's lost this independent's vote. He already told us he doesn't know sht from applebutter when it comes to economics, and he can vote by internet. So what good is he going to do in Washington other than appear there as a political maneuver?

I meant McCain of course. Why do I keep thinking that Rove is making all the decisions for McCain these days.

There is no way to understand the american public.

McCain decided to STOP advertisements, to stop the political non sense in order to pay attention to what most American have being demanding from their "representatives": to work together and find a solution. And now the public wants to fry him up for doing exactly that.

His Highness can't do that. He is too afraid of the consequences for his ambitions if he were to stop for a moment the political noise to take care of the people.

It takes galls to do what McCain is doing. Not advertising could hurt him, but he cares more about this crisis. Whether i will agree with his solutions or not is to be seen. But one thing is for sure: I do appreciate his courage and boldness in stopping political advertisements.

The reason the MSM is attacking him is simple: no advertisement, no millions of dollars in ads for them.

So the man who understands economics not quite so well feels he can't attend a debate on a Friday night? Interesting. His campaign has been so weird it scares me.

McSame tried to pull a political stunt and it's backfiring on him.

Obama's account of what transpired today between his campaign and McSame's campaign rings true. McSame's account, like that of all liars, contains TMI. No matter how many years McSame has been lying, he's still not very good at it.

My fellow Americans and ladies and genlemen. McSame is at it again. with his uncontrollable temperament. If you are losing the game and have no chance of winning; you can either try to change the rule in the middle of the game or simply quit. WHAT A SORE LOSER! MCBush has no answer for the current economic fiasco and he has seen his popularity suffers. Therefore, he did what a decent loser would do, quit! My fellow Americans, is this the guy you want to be your president? God help us all.

The only response any sensible American should give; if and when ask for opinion on McLiar’s latest action; simly say: RUN JOHNNY RUN.

DIVERSION called here by McCain: coward and dishonest.

Obama takes time out of his debate cramming session to hold a news conference to explain why he can't take time out of his debate cramming session to return to the Senate to work on the financial crisis.

Where are all you loons coming up with all this nonsense?

A few weeks ago at Saddleback, McCain took Obama's fuzzy head and mopped the stage with it.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 24, 2008 7:06 PM
*********************

I assume from your racist comment that you mean to disparage Obama. Unfortunately, that's precisely the point. Even hardcore Repubs like my brother are outraged by this stunt because they expected McCain to do very well Friday. Thinking Republicans are mystified and furious. Can't wait to read George Will's and Richard Cohen's next columns.

McCain talks with Bush and now wants to participate in the "stalled" discussions. McCain is doing Bush/Cheney's bidding; proving true that he's one of Bush's people and would continue the failed Bush policies of the past 8 years.

The decision seems like a good one for McCain. He needs a strong position on the rescue package to have a chance of resurrecting his candidacy. Its easy to see why Obama would prefer to continue his campaign without any disruption. But there is a danger to him in that course. It is obvious that the rescue package is a very big deal to the electorate. If he allows McCain the position of appearing more concerned and more central to the outcome, it could wind up costing Obama dearly.

Posted by: dnjake | September 24, 2008 4:16 PM
__________________________________________
Agreed. It was a well calculated move on the part of McCain. It could blow up but it was a very calculated move.

When a crisis arrives, Obama wants to debate (or vote "present").

McCain wants to act!

McCain has America's priorities in order.

Obama does not.

McCain is too important to the Senate to let him leave. He needs to stay and work in the Senate. He realizes that. Let McCain continue to do his good works in the Senate where he's best. Vote for McCain to stay in the Senate, Vote Obama for President. (apologies to JFK)

Excuse me, McCain hasn't voted in the Senate since APRIL 11th.

Too bad you wingnuts keep having your flimsy arguments knocked down with FACTS!

GOP=JOKERS

Way to go Obama! Americans want to see a debate!

I agree with McCain that he and Obama should be involved with the bailout talks, and I hope they have been all week like Obama says. But to cancel/postpone the debate? Come on. Is McCain scared?

Rasmussen Markets shows Obama getting a bigger bounce from this, than the 3 pointer he got from the democratic national convention. The trading is heavier in McCain than Obama. Are you there, Larry Kudlow?

Perhaps McCain's moral preening coupled with his resort to every low-down-dirty gimmick in the book is coming home to roost?

I hope so, even though I don't look forward to 8 years of ear-beating by Joe Biden. Then again, maybe he'll be busy attending the funerals of obscure foreign statesmen.

"He can't run the campaign because the economy is cratering? Fine, put in your second string quarterback, Sara Palin. Where is she?"

"What are you going to do if you're elected and things get tough? Suspend being president? We've got a guy like that now!"

Developing...

Posted by: Anonymous | September 24, 2008 7:05 PM
***********************

Thanks, anon! Very interesting and much appreciated. The hardcore right will complain about Letterman, but the independents watch him and will agree: Songbird McCain blinked. He's done.

Saddleback? Who cares about a wingnut palace like Saddleback? Palin locked in the looney evangelicals. McCain is welcome to them now that HE HAS BECOME A JOKE!

Fine. Let McCain run and hide. Obama can appear alone and answer Jim Lehrer's questions by himself. I'm an Independent and I'm growing sick and tired of McCain's tactics and posturing.

Politicians everywhere: Grow up and lead!

Think about the politics of this AFTER the deal is done. (a) Voters are gonna hate it because it bails out the plutocrats, (b) McCain has just positioned himself so deeply involved that the deal will be thought of as McCain's deal, and (c) Obama, by staying away except to vote for it (which he'll have to do) will be able to say, "I voted for it 'cause it was necessary, but I coulda done better." McCain made the pain from this much worse for himself than he needed to.

This is a time for real leadership, McCain goes to Washington to do his current job, Obama runs like a little girl from his elected office.
Now we know who the real leader is...
The debate is rhetoric and the stage is set for the democratic lead congress to fix the problem or be part of the economic problem that will cost many their jobs in November.

Brian,
Which of McCain's homes do you think he will sacrifice for the greater good?

Do you think he might let YOU pick one?

McCain to send cut-out of his self to the debate.

Where are all you loons coming up with all this nonsense?

A few weeks ago at Saddleback, McCain took Obama's fuzzy head and mopped the stage with it.

Here's the Drudge "exclusive:"

EXCLUSIVE: LETTERMAN MOCKS MCCAIN CANCELLATION
Wed Sep 24 2008 17:41:58 ET

David Letterman tells audience that McCain called him today to tell him he had to rush back to DC to deal with the economy.

Then in the middle of the taping Dave got word that McCain was, in fact just down the street being interviewed by Katie Couric. Dave even cut over to the live video of the interview, and said, "Hey Senator, can I give you a ride home?"

Earlier in the show, Dave kept saying, "You don't suspend your campaign. This doesn't smell right. This isn't the way a tested hero behaves." And he joked: "I think someone's putting something in his metamucil."

"He can't run the campaign because the economy is cratering? Fine, put in your second string quarterback, Sara Palin. Where is she?"

"What are you going to do if you're elected and things get tough? Suspend being president? We've got a guy like that now!"

Developing...

It's just like David Axelrod Puppet supporters to see everything McCain says or does through a lens of self interest; after all, that's what Democrats ALWAYS do. It never occurs to them that McCain in concerned about our country's future, after he's dead and gone. Nope. A 72 year old man thinks he's gonna live forever and make wads of cash on autobiographies, consulting contracts with foreign companies, and speaking tours. No-siree-bob, a guy like McCain must be in it for ego and profit. On the other hand, Puppet, with decades to go, has no interest in all the fun of being an ex-US president making tons off endorsements for cash and running victory laps for being America's First Black President. But given the state this country will be in after he's done leading it, he'll be about as important in the history books as Romulus Augustus.

http://www.straight.com/article-163365/senator-bernie-sanders-billions-bailouts-who-pays
September 24, 2008Login or register to post comments email print
America's wealthiest should pay for the billion-dollar bailouts
By Senator Bernie Sanders

The current financial crisis facing our country has been caused by the extreme right-wing economic policies pursued by the Bush administration. These policies, which include huge tax breaks for the rich, unfettered free trade and the wholesale deregulation of commerce, have resulted in a massive redistribution of wealth from the middle class to the very wealthy.

The middle class has really been under assault. Since President George W. Bush has been in office, nearly six million Americans have slipped into poverty, median family income for working Americans has declined by more than $2,000, more than seven million Americans have lost their health insurance, more than four million have lost their pensions, foreclosures are at an all-time high, total consumer debt has more than doubled, and we have a national debt of more than $9.7 trillion dollars.

While the middle class collapses, the richest people in this country have made out like bandits and have not had it so good since the 1920s. The top 0.1 percent now earn more money than the bottom 50 percent of Americans, and the top one percent own more wealth than the bottom 90 percent.

OLD McBUSH,age72 IS OUT TO KILL TIME AND OUT TO PROTECT SARAH DUH FROM THE PRESS. BEAR IN MIND THAT OLD McBUSH's VOTED AND ADVICE IN THE SENATE FOR LESS GOVERMENT REGULATION. SEND SARAH DUH BACK TO ALASKA TO WATCH RUSSIA IN ONE OF YOUR 13 AUTOS.

McCain is finished.
Obama did the only thing possible in insisting upon the debate going ahead.
For Pete's sake, McCain has been needling him for weeks for not having the courage to debate him.

Who's afraid now, McCain?

I almost feel sorry for the guy, but I know he'd shoot me in the face if I got in his way.
Sympathy tends to melt away under those circumstances.

McCain on the economic crisis: Drop everything and going to Washington to make sure that ordinary citizens won't lose their jobs, their homes and their life savings. Country First!!!

Obama on the economic crisis: "Call me if you need me." Obama First!!!

Oh sure. Government can just fix the problem like that. McCain just needs to get back there on Friday and it'll all be taken care of. Then we can get back to the unimportant issue of not changing which direction the country is headed in.

Get real. They will still be panicking on Wall St. after Friday, no matter what the Congress does. We've just begun to see the bad doo doo coming our way. The next fun stuff will be a further plunge of the dollar in response to the long new steps into debt that the government is taking. Then the new inflation numbers will come out.

McCain runs away!

Is there a better ending to anybody who was ACTUALLY questioning who was the better man for the job?

McCain is not capable to be President. PERIOD.

Wow you wingnuts are prolific! Far more pathetic attempts to defend the WUSS MCCAIN move to "suspend his campaign" for nakedly political reasons than your 19% (of people who still think W is doing a good job) would suggest. I guess that's what happens when you spend all day in front of the PC trolling Post message boards.

NEWSFLASH GOP: YOUR CANDIDATE IS OFFICIALLY A JOKE! GO CHECK OUT DRUDGE!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

The Republicans, once again, are running against themselves. Several of the top core beliefs of republicans include: Let the the market run its course. Personal responsibility. Deregulation. John McCain doesnt want a debate because the Republican party is on its heels and this is the final blow. Say goodnight!

Has the pressure finally got to him? Has he lost his freaking mind? Is this is a crack?

George Will, columnist, put it this way—yesterday:

“Under the pressure of the financial crisis, one presidential candidate is behaving like a flustered rookie playing in a league too high. It is not Barack Obama.”

I guess he knew things brewing in McCain’s camp!

Way back in 1907 Morgan locked the leading bankers of his day in the is library until the came up with a solution to the economic crisis of the day. Apparently, someone from the McCain campaign read this on a plaque in the library.

Now you know where McCain is getting his ideas: robberbarons who fleeced the country in much the same way McCain and the GOP is fleecting us now. Shades of the Keating 5.

Posted by: Phxflyer | September 24, 2008 6:57 PM
*******************

I think this is fascinating: hadn't heard this. In all seriousness, it doesn't quite jibe with the NYT chronology, but could still stand. Would you source this, please?

Thanks!

This decision on giving Bush's thieves $700,000,000,000 severence should wait till the "ELECTION"! If the public can stand being made a fool by Karl Rove...well, so be it!

Obama is just an empty suit. He is looking presidential someone said. He might be looking presidential but there is neither leadership nor substance under this glossy suit. Sen. Obama should report back to work that he was elected to do. Sen. Obama should take the leadership of the Democrat-led do-nothing Congress to deal with this problem. I personally do not agree with the bailout proposal and expect Sen. McCain to come out strongly against it through the leadership meetings and negotiations. Sen. Obama decided to avoid the leadership call and concentrate instead on his debate speech. That’s the leadership that we do not need. We do not need empty suits making empty speeches while missing in action. Sen. Obama, let’s get to work.

David Letterman mocks McCain:

Update: Drudge reports that Letterman mocked McCain during the show's taping Wednesday afternoon.

"In the middle of the taping Dave got word that McCain was, in fact just down the street being interviewed by Katie Couric. Dave even cut over to the live video of the interview, and said, "Hey Senator, can I give you a ride home?"

Earlier in the show, Dave kept saying, "You don't suspend your campaign. This doesn't smell right. This isn't the way a tested hero behaves." And he joked: "I think someone's putting something in his metamucil."

"He can't run the campaign because the economy is cratering? Fine, put in your second string quarterback, Sara Palin. Where is she?"

"What are you going to do if you're elected and things get tough? Suspend being president? We've got a guy like that now!"

99% of the job is showing up! McCain is trying to hide from the American people. Obama should show up and debate an empty chair if McCain doesn't show.

Postponing this debate is the same as shutting the American people out!

It's on a Friday night for Pete's sake! What is McCain going to do in Congress on a Friday night?!
Most of congress probably won't even be there.
McCain is running scared!

Both McCain and Obama want to talk about the financial crisis.

They have a debate scheduled in MS on Friday on foreign policy. As most people in Mississippi can't even point out the US on a world map why not just change the topic to the financial crisis and move the foreign policy debate to a later date?

Where are all you loons coming up with all this nonsense?

At Saddleback, McCain took Obama's fuzzy head and mopped the stage with it.

Palin/McCain08

--the moosehunter and the geezer

running scared for all the world to see

just what we need...

Under the pressure of the financial crisis, one presidential candidate is behaving like a flustered rookie playing in a league too high. It is not Barack Obama.

George F. WIll.

So let me get this straight...

McCain has simply decided to unilaterally cancel the debate on Friday? Is he insane? What is WRONG with this man?

This may seem like "leadership" to that 25% lunatic Bush-deadender fringe, but to normal Americans, this bizarre tantrum/stunt is completely unacceptable!

Bye Bye McCain. Enjoy hiding in the Senate where you will be for a long time!

A McCain spokesperson says, "He really wants he and Senator Obama, leadership, throw in the chairmen, the administration, lock themselves in a room for the next 100 hours or however long it is between now and Monday morning and achieve some kind of consensus on something that will have the Congress's support."

This is neither an original thought or quote. McCain was in the J. Pierpont Morgan library when this scheme was hatched. Way back in 1907 Morgan locked the leading bankers of his day in the is library until the came up with a solution to the economic crisis of the day. Apparently, someone from the McCain campaign read this on a plaque in the library.

Now you know where McCain is getting his ideas: robberbarons who fleeced the country in much the same way McCain and the GOP is fleecting us now. Shades of the Keating 5.

Some idiot on this board called McCain "poll-challenged".

If that opinion reflects the WaPo/ABC poll, let me interject a little reality for you:

"Chevrolet Announces Clear Lead Over Ford"

In a poll conducted by GMC/ABC today...

Biased?

WaPo and ABC are O'bamadinejad WORSHIPPERS.

Ever heard of "voice activated e-mail " programs Moran."???

It's called technology...apparently you and McCain are both not up

to speed.

Actually, the reason Senator Obama has refused to appear at any townhall with Senator McCain, is that Obama does not come off as very smart when he is not using prepared remarks and not using a teleprompter.

Posted by: LeeHInAlexandria

--------------------------------

And McCain does? Dude, share what you're smoking!

umm why can't they just change the subject of the debate to the financial crisis?

McCain pondered Friday’s debate and rightly realized that he would be whipped. So, he pulls his second political stunt in 4 weeks. The first fizzled out in 2 weeks. This one lasted about 2 hours.

Friday’s debate should proceed as planned. If McCain chooses to “eject”, Obama should attend and frame McCain as he chooses.

Showboating in the skies of Vietnam is over. This time, McCain has crashed and burned.

Oh! I see the evening shift of RNC/Palin-McCain off shore paid trolls have arrived! Let's make sure they feel welcomed!

dmarchuleta,

Obama was under no obligation to accept McCain's town hall proposal. In fact I bet you can count on one or two fingers how many of these hallowed town halls McCain has had since selecting Palin. Gee, wonder why that is?

On the other hand McCain DID agree to the scheduled debates. Both he and Obama have made clear what they feel needs to be included in any bailout, what more can they do but get in the way and usurp the actual negotiations? It is a political ploy plain and simple. I hope it backfires on him because it is yet another cynical move by this sellout. If it truly was as important for him to be there as he says he would leave immediately, not wait until after the photo ops and sound bites he'll get tonight.

Posted by: Independent | September 24, 2008 6:51 PM

Actually, the reason Senator Obama has refused to appear at any townhall with Senator McCain, is that Obama does not come off as very smart when he is not using prepared remarks and not using a teleprompter.

What was McCain thinking????? His first debate is a no-show and the next one is the notorious bloodbath of Sarah Palin live in front of America.
Suspend it????? End it already.

On Friday Obama should go to the debate alone, even if McCain does not show up.

Same for Biden, go to your debate alone on Oct 2, even if Palin does not show up.

Presidents show up for the task at hand.

Obama rejected McCain's STUNT!!!

Why does John McCain suddenly want to suspend his presidential campaign and postpone Friday's debate? His campaign surrogates are saying it's a typical "maverick" move, that McCain is simply "putting country first." Let's look at the evidence:

1) As Ben Smith notes, McCain's move "is a mark, most of all, that he doesn't like the way this campaign is going. ... The only thing that's changed in the last 48 hours is the public polling."

2) The idea of uniting the campaigns to find a bipartisan solution to the Wall Street crisis wasn't even McCain's idea. A few minutes ago, Obama spokesman Bill Burton emailed to reporters:

"At 8:30 this morning, Senator Obama called Senator McCain to ask him if he would join in issuing a joint statement outlining their shared principles and conditions for the Treasury proposal and urging Congress and the White House to act in a bipartisan manner to pass such a proposal. At 2:30 this afternoon, Senator McCain returned Senator Obama's call and agreed to join him in issuing such a statement. The two campaigns are currently working together on the details."
3) John McCain has skipped more votes during this session than any member of the Senate except for Tim Johnson, who had major brain surgery. He has cast a single vote in five months, since April 9. All of a sudden, McCain is demanding that the presidential race shut down so he can return to Washington?

4) A reminder: President Bush was able to debate John Kerry while he was president. For all of his sudden urgency, McCain acknowledged just yesterday that he had not even read the administration's three-page bailout proposal.

5) It's not clear at all that having McCain and Obama back in DC will actually help. "What does seem apparent, though, is that putting the two candidates in the negotiating room is far more likely to distract--and derail--negotiations than having them out on the hustings," Jonathan Cohn writes at the New Republic.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/24/mccain-wants-a-time-out_n_128991.html

McCain is a scared old man well into his second childhood. He can't handle this but he expects to be able to handle being president?

What a joke.

What's even sadder (or actually funnier) are the gop hacks defending him with a straight face.

Only problem with McCain joining as co-sponsor of S.190 is that he did so 1 1/2 years after it had already died in committee. A committee in which Obama was not a member.

He has really put Obama in a corner.

Wake up Democrats, you're playing with the big boys now.

Posted by: David | September 24, 2008 5:23 PM
*********************

David, and others apparently applauding McCain's move. Don't kid yourselves. My brother, a diehard Republican, called me from LA this afternoon after he heard of the stunt. He is livid with the McCain campaign. He's an extremely intelligent man (despite supporting the wrong party) and I guarantee you: if he feels this way, many, many other Republicans do, too.

From:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/09/lets-move-palins-debate-to-this-friday.html

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Let's Move Palin's Debate to This Friday!

McCain wants to cancel the first debate and move it to the Vice Presidential debate. Moving that debate into the future.

Talk about killing two birds with one stone--in addition to McCain's avoiding his debate in the face of falling poll numbers, after Palin's day of near-silent photo-ops at the U.N., attempting to also give Palin more time to prepare.

As suggested by Dana Milbank on CNN, there's an easy solution--just let Palin debate this Friday night!

The fundamentals of the debate are strong!

Cite:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/09/lets-move-palins-debate-to-this-friday.html

Obama is going to look awfully petty and awfully small if he is standing on a debate stage all by himself and Congress at the same hour is trying to hammer out something to fix this mess.

Incumbent party should be changed in White House, if its govening lead to crash of stock market. Everybody knows it, starting or, at least, including McCain. His current cheap tricks could not and would not change this fundamental fact. This current crash simply means that Obama is running unopposed. McCain could (or should), of course, suspend his campain, at least, the senseless waste of money would be stopped.

Posted by: aepelbaum | September 24, 2008 6:49 PM

aepelbaum, this whole mess started under President Clinton. President Bush and the conservative wing of the Republican party have been trying to stop this since 2003 but have been foiled at every turn by the Democratic party.

McCain is a senate leader and needs to be in DC to help ram-rod this legislation through. Obama is not a leader and isn't needed in Washington, therefore, they are both correct in their decisions.

Posted by: HawaiianGecko | September 24, 2008 6:48 PM

-----------
"Ram-rod" - absolutely the most appropriate term for that move. Thanks for that.

dmarchuleta,

Obama was under no obligation to accept McCain's town hall proposal. In fact I bet you can count on one or two fingers how many of these hallowed town halls McCain has had since selecting Palin. Gee, wonder why that is?

On the other hand McCain DID agree to the scheduled debates. Both he and Obama have made clear what they feel needs to be included in any bailout, what more can they do but get in the way and usurp the actual negotiations? It is a political ploy plain and simple. I hope it backfires on him because it is yet another cynical move by this sellout. If it truly was as important for him to be there as he says he would leave immediately, not wait until after the photo ops and sound bites he'll get tonight.

Multi-task, multi-task, as president the world will have multiple issues going on at once. George W, debated Kerry as a sittinf president.

Also, the real issue is THEY WANT TO PUSH THE VP DEBATE out to the future. That is the issue - pay attention folks, this is a classic banana in the tail pipe moment.

Now McCain wants to pre-empt the VP debate with a Presidential debate???? Yep, he's running scared. He knows he will get creamed and that it will be a LOT worse if Palin is forced to like... answer questions.

And just this morning Mccain was touring New York like nothing was on his mind. That is until he got the news that TWO polls show Obama has already shot ahead of him in a big way.

You do not LEAD by giving speeches, saying that I will do this I will do that.

You do not LEAD by debating an unrelated issue during a time of crisis.

You do not LEAD by standing by taking ORDERS from your PARTY as a politician.

You do not lead by putting SELF, and ambitions ahead of your Country.

I do not want a PRESIDENT that can not LEAD that would rather sit on his hands and WAIT for others to tell him what to say and what to do.

You do not LEAD by putting your POLITICAL PARTY ahead of your Country.

That is exactly the things that THE ALMIGHTY OBAMA is doing. He is again sitting on the fence, playing lip service to Main Stream America's problems. wanting to campaign and debate DURING WHAT MAY be the most important financial crisis since the Great Depression.

His Democratic cronies have already met behind closed doors to pass funding for the War.. adding about 6.9 BILLION dollars in PORK to the Bill..

This comes this week...

The democrats seem SURE that they will be able to put OBAMA in the White House in November... thus they are doing everything crooked, foul, illegal, dirty that they can to insure that he is ELECTED.

Obama has not educational plans, no infrastructure plans. not health care plans, no new plans at all... BECAUSE GET WHAT... there is not MONEY available to fund anything.

IF HE IS ELECTED, We will have a 10 Trillion Dollar debt to the WORLD, by the time he is sworn in. Talk about a poison pill.. The taxpayer will owe over 1 trillion dollars in CREDIT CARD DEBIT.

And he preaches about what HE IS GOING TO DO TO CHANGE WASHINGTON.

Best thing he or anyone could do.. anyone over two terms in office.. Put them on board a moth-balled ship... take them to the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, and then shuttle the ship. Because these same individuals have shuttled the American Taxpayer by not BALANCING THE BUDGET.

OBAMA is worst than that.. pig in the pen.
He is putting a dress on that pig and adding a dress and it will be the same Democratic agenda as always.

Take from the poor, give to the wealthy and spend, spend on social programs... WITHOUT a care for balancing the budget.

GEEZ, is there a black man in politics that doesn't have his dead anscestors' emancipation records, because I have the same problem going into politics and I'm white.

Relax everyone, ain't gonna be no election anytime soon. W's not goin' anywheres.

Obama is going to look awfully petty and awfully small standing on a debate stage all by himself while Congress at the very same hour is trying to hammer something out to fix this mess.

Funny thing happened on the way to the debates: O'bamadinejad ran into a real politician.

This is the Big Leagues, junior. Street jive won't cut it.

Incumbent party should be changed in White House, if its govening lead to crash of stock market. Everybody knows it, starting or, at least, including McCain. His current cheap tricks could not and would not change this fundamental fact. This current crash simply means that Obama is running unopposed. McCain could (or should), of course, suspend his campain, at least, the senseless waste of money would be stopped.

They need to have the debate, but switch topics. Discuss domestic policy Friday, then foreign policy during the second debate. Or at the absolute worst, have the VP debate Friday.

What exactly does McBush think he's going to do? Throw open the conference room doors, drop is vague and obvious 5 point plan on the table and let everyone bask in his brilliance? Let the Banking Committee, with both Dem and GOP representatives hammer out a deal first, then evaluate it. We don't need 100 cooks in the kitchen on this one.

Let's just imagine that it was Obama and not McCain calling for this debate postponement. The Right would be all over him for supposed cowardice and fear of his performance.

If Obama were to get solidly behind the bailout he's then pandering to greedy Wall St. If he doesn't then he's not putting the interest of the country first.

But in the end none of this silliness matters. That's because only the Rasmussen poll now shows McCain with the 270 electoral votes he needs. Most of the others give Obama at least a plurality if not the 270. And if no candidate gets 270 then the race gets decided in the House under U.S. Constitution rules.

Do you catch my drift?
President Obama!

One suggestion / option: Have the VP debate first. I'm sure Joe Biden would be ready.

McCain is a senate leader and needs to be in DC to help ram-rod this legislation through. Obama is not a leader and isn't needed in Washington, therefore, they are both correct in their decisions.

after all nothing is more important to lil hussein than himself, let the country be darned.
its what we can always expect from lil hussein, always looking out for his own self interest and screw America.

Poor, poll-challenged McCain tried a little one-upsmanship on this one, but everybody saw straight through it.

I'm glad the Obama campaign decided to go ahead with Friday's debate, and it's true now more than ever it's time for such a debate.

McMoron obviously doesn't have the judgement to be President. First, his knee jerk reaction is to fire the head of the SEC, as if that was relevant, now he goes back to Washington and do what? He just want to dodge the debate with Obama because Obama will clean his clock.

Game, set and match.

Ronald Reagan could govern into his 70s because he was athletic, active and vital. McCain isn't. He's proving too old to handle the rigors of the job. You can't say he's more ready to take that 3AM call if he's too old and weak to handle it. Sad, but that's the way it is.

Maybe if McCain knew how to use e-mail, he could figure out how to multi-task, work on the financial crisis and have a debate.

Now he wants to cancel the debate, no wait, he jsut changed his mind again, now he wants to re-schedule the debate to 10/2, gee, wasn't that supposed to be the VP debate....guess Sarah's not quite up to speed yet or for that matter it appears that McCain isn't either.

They can't keep hiding forever. Where's Sarah ??? We need answers, don't you think. An honest press conference or two would be helpful. McCain needs to answer the American people.
The debates must go on...all of them..on date, on time. Period.
Country first...it appears as if it's politics first,last and always.

Posted by: bnoz | September 24, 2008 6:43 PM

Senator McCain can't use email because he can't type on a keyboard because of his war injuries you moron.

Did anyone read the piece in the Post today
Posted by: havener938 | September 24, 2008 6:40 PM
_____________________________________
Hey 938, anyone still reading or listening to Murdoch ( NY POST,FOX, etc, ) is now classified as "A FRIGGIN IDIOT"

They're supposed to debate foreign policy during a domestic crisis. Ya think the voters will be sitting there yelling at their screens, "I don't care about Armenia, I care about whether my house is still my house or my retirement fund still is solvent". Talk about that. I think this is a stroke of genius by McCain. There's a crisis, Obama and McCain are US Senators, they ought to be on Capitol Hill earning their paychecks that you and I are paying.

Hold up, O'bamadinejad, you'll get your shot when Mac decides it's the right time.

The good news? The delay will provide you with time to brainstorm with Bette Midler. I'm sure she has loads of suggestions! Why, you and she and Nancy "Don't Blame Me!" Pelosi can literally save the planet while McCain fixes another Democrat SNAFU.

If McCain realy is waiving the White Flag, then he needs to get behind the Obama plan and accept the controls on this bailout that the Democratic Party are putting forward and the US Tax Payers are demanding.

Posted by: walker1 | September 24, 2008 6:37 PM

This bailout, being led by the Democrats, is about the Congress not only stealing 1 trillion dollars from you and I, but letting them regulate the credit industry. This is socialism pure and simple.

First, Sen. McCain is calling for a POSTPONEMENT, not a cancellation of the debate, so he's not running from anything. Second, he's asked Sen. Obama to join him in one-on-one townhall meetings for MONTHS, and was continually rebuffed. Third, Sen. Obama states that he would work in a non-partisan manner if elected President. Well this is a perfect opportunity to prove it. There are 40 days left until the election. We have plenty of time for debates. Let's get our priorities in order. They are after all STILL sitting U.S. Senators. They should both be in D.C. doing the job they are paid to do. Lastly, for the ones calling Sen. McCain a coward or worse....well just ask Bill.

McCain: deal by Friday, or no debate!

See ya, John. Not even congress would swallow this pig in lipstick without cooking it first.

Maybe if McCain knew how to use e-mail, he could figure out how to multi-task, work on the financial crisis and have a debate.

Now he wants to cancel the debate, no wait, he jsut changed his mind again, now he wants to re-schedule the debate to 10/2, gee, wasn't that supposed to be the VP debate....guess Sarah's not quite up to speed yet or for that matter it appears that McCain isn't either.

They can't keep hiding forever. Where's Sarah ??? We need answers, don't you think. An honest press conference or two would be helpful. McCain needs to answer the American people.
The debates must go on...all of them..on date, on time. Period.
Country first...it appears as if it's politics first,last and always.

that's what you get when you let a dirty oldfag mind the store

I agree with Obama.

I do have a question.

The plan that the administration wants the congress to approve right away, that's the administration's plan? As in George Bush plan?

If so, why would W be balking at CEO compensation that all of congress and citizens agree with?

Is he crazy?

RUN, JOHN, RUN...ALL THE WAY BACK TO ARIZONA!!

The more I think about this, the weirder it seems.

There is no policy reason for McCain to be in Washington, nor is there any logistical reason for not having the debate. Not in the days of airplanes. Notice that McCain didn't suggest moving it to a TV studio in D.C., but rather dropped out.

Politically, the move makes no sense, either. Friday's debate plays to McCain's strengths, at a time when he's slightly behind in a see-sawing race and needs to catch an updraft. Going to Washington to be photographed with a bunch of Republican senators is not a move calculated to win friends or influence voters.

No substantive reason, no symbolic benefit. That puts this in a different category, which is personal problems. Medical, psychological or both. This is irrational and erratic at best. I really hope the media will ask some meaningful questions, for once.

Keep posting, LeeHInAlexandria. Your sophomoric logic and simplemindedness perfectly complements the whining and the foaming-at-the-mouth of your party. Your pit bull may have lipstick but it also has rabies.

By the way, it's a good thing no one listened to Jimmy Carter 30 years ago when he warned we needed to develop alternative energy. Yeah, Reagan put a stop to that foolishness. We'd never have had the pleasure of $4 gas.

Posted by: Edd | September 24, 2008 6:35 PM

Edd, if you were actually educated, the Republicans have been trying to get us on many forms of alternative energy for years but have been stalled at every turn. The Republicans, and I am talking about true conservatives, not the left wing socialists that have infested the party, have wanted to lift the off shore drilling ban for years. All of these measures have been in part to keep gas prices low.

FYI. If you take the price of gas in 1920 and adjust for inflation today, the price of gas should be somewhere around $3.21 a gallon.

FYI. One reason (out of many) that gas prices are high is that Congress mandates that the oil companies MUST refine 26 different grades of gas. Why not pick the top three grades and be done with it?

Why does'nt someone just kill this old angry bomb dropper! Are'nt there any BRAVES left in AMERICA?

Did anyone read the piece in the Post today about how Obama's economic brains trust is guiding the Dem leadership in Congress through this mess? Obama - through his advisors (who, btw, as experts in markets and economics actually know something about this stuff) - is totally in the middle of this, but in a constructive way, without injecting himself or the campaign into it.
Seems rather presidential to me. You don't see Bush huddling in the back rooms on the Hill. He sent Bernanke and Paulson, precisely as he should have. For Obama to take the same tack (sending advisors and emissaries)seems rather more presidential than McCain's inclination to revert to his identity as a legislator.
I think that when this perspective sinks in with the public, that'll be it for McCain. The final example of Obama keeping his head in a crisis and McCain flying into a panic. Election over. This is the audition - today, and only one candidate is passing it.

McCain is just TRASH EXPRESS TALKING AGAIN!
McCain is NOT sitting anything in this WALL STREET crisis and is just out to triangulate AND hopes the "dopes" will raise his poll numbers BECAUSE McCain is posturing as though he has a little bit of CLOUT. Last week or so he wanted to fire Paulson, right?
Debate must go on as scheduled.
McCain with Obama can throw out a joint-statement, if they like but a McCain pretense of stopping the RACE for the WHITE HOUSE to solve what McCain does NOT even UNDERSTAND is too ludicrous. Yes, McCain if NOT doddering and faking on this, should MOVE ON with his CAMPAIGN and tell everybody out of McCain mouth what McCain can do!

If MCCAIN is not just trash express talking again, and he is!

"You didn't hear a hint of a partisan attack or posturing in that statement," said McCain senior adviser Mark Salter. "He really wants he and Senator Obama, leadership, throw in the chairmen, the administration, lock themselves in a room for the next 100 hours or however long it is between now and Monday morning and achieve some kind of consensus on something that will have the Congress's support."

-------------------------------------

Did he really say this? Doesn't this strike you as back room wheeling and dealing? I'd rather transparency myself, in full public view.

Yup, Palin-McCain are sure gonna' do some shakin' and fixin' all right by golly! Don't forget the Hot Dish and the Jello mold with the little marshmallows!

Give me a break!

David123456,

Right, Obama's dumb. That's why he graduated magna from HLS and was editor-in-chief of the law review.

How did you manage to count that high in your handle?

You're worried about Obama not releasing his academic records? What about Palin's academic records from her six schools? How about her "lost" emails?

You are a pathetic automaton hypocrite.

You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig.

McCain is coward.

The nerve of that Senator Obama, actually wanting to debate and discuss the issues in front of the American people during a time of crisis...

David123456,

Right, Obama's dume. That's why he graduated magna from HLS and was editor-in-chief of the law review.

How did you manage to count that high in your handle?

If McCain realy is waiving the White Flag, then he needs to get behind the Obama plan and accept the controls on this bailout that the Democratic Party are putting forward and the US Tax Payers are demanding.

Senator McCain suspended his campaign to reduce the partisan rancor until this crisis is controlled. The primary engine driving the partisanship, that could destroy the quality of life that we enjoy, is the presidential campaign.

Most of the previous posts prove that this is true. TRUTH - why bother? FAIRNESS - You've got to be kidding!! Unless we can have a more civil discussion and join to protect our common good, our country may not survive as we know it.

You will still be able to write your vile partisan rhetoric but may not be able to post it when IP s are unable to get loans and shut down. You will have a lot of time on your hands since most of us will be unemployed.

If we solve this crisis, we will be able to survive with either Obama or McCain as President, we survived Carter and Nixon.

If we allow the crisis to overwhelm us, the election won't matter. The loser will be the candidate that is elected.

No nation or ideology can destroy our country, but we can. The statements by congressional Democrats and Republicans about the crisis are scary. It is clear that we have elected partisan Republicans and partisan Democrats in recent years instead of Americans who happen to be Democrat or Republican.

I call on all Americans to set aside our differences and partisan rhetoric until this crisis is resolved and to demand of their elected officials that they do the same. Those who will not deserve to be punished at their next election regardless of their political affiliation.

Warren Buffet said that this could be a financial Pearl Harbor. We can see the airplanes on the horizon, but we are given 1000 excuses for not taking action.

obama thinks he's running for president of the reacharound club. this jerkoff can't find his owndick to pee without the help of aunt esther

Deregulator McCain

McCain Supported A Banking Bill Because It Eliminated "The Tremendous Regulatory Burden Imposed On Financial Institutions." While speaking in favor of bank deregulation on the floor of the senate, John McCain said, "This legislation takes a small but important step toward eliminating the tremendous regulatory burden imposed on financial institution... One principal reason banks are unable to make loans is the bewildering array of statutory and regulatory restrictions and paperwork requirements imposed by Congress and the regulatory agencies. While a case can certainly be made that every law and regulation is intended to serve a laudable purpose, the aggregate effect of the rapidly increasing regulatory burden imposed on banks is to cause them to devote substantial time, energy and money to compliance rather than meeting the credit needs of the community." [Congressional Record, 11/19/93; emphasis added]

McCain Supported A Bill To "Takes A Small Step Forward Toward Eliminating Unnecessary Regulatory Burdens Imposed On Banks." While speaking in favor of bank deregulation on the floor of the senate, John McCain said, "While a case can certainly be made that every law and regulation is intended to serve a laudable purpose, the aggregate effect of the rapidly increasing regulatory burden imposed on banks is to cause them to devote substantial time, energy and money to compliance rather than meeting the credit needs of the community.... This bill recognizes this fact, and takes a small step forward toward eliminating unnecessary regulatory burdens imposed on banks." [Congressional Record, 11/19/93; emphasis added]

McCain Said The Best Thing Government Can Do For Business Is "Stay Out Of Its Way." While speaking about the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act on the floor on the Senate in 2000, John McCain said, 'I am convinced that the best thing government can often do to advance the fortunes of the private sector is to stay out of its way. I support this bill because it makes progress toward that end, by improving companies' flexibility to hire the talent they need, while providing for the regulatory framework and new educational opportunities to protect and promote American workers." [Congressional Record, 10/3/00; emphasis added]

In 1999, McCain Supported Phil Gramm's Banking Deregulation Bill. In 1999, John McCain voted for passage of the Senate version of a bill that would eliminate current barriers erected by the 1933 Glass-Steagall Act and other laws that impede affiliations between banking, securities, insurance and other firms. The bill also would exempt small, non-urban banks from the 1977 Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), revise the Federal Home Loan Bank system and require that owners of automated teller machines (ATMs) provide notice on the ATM and on-screen of any charges imposed for the use of the terminal. The bill passed 54-44. [S. 900, Vote #105, 5/6/99] McCain Missed The Vote For Final Passage Because He Was Campaigning In New Hampshire. John McCain missed the final vote on Phil Gramm's banking deregulation bill because he was campaigning in New Hampshire. [NPR, "Morning Edition," 11/5/99; S. 900, Vote #354, 11/4/99] --Progressive Accountability

Stop the presses!!!! John McCain is going back to Washington to single-handedly rescue the country from financial disaster. He is going to lend his formidable fiscal expertise and expert knowledge of economics to help out. What a selfless and noble man!! What a maverick!! What a straight-talker!!! Not.

Look, this is a transparent ploy. McCain is trying to sell this stunt as consistent with his "country first" campaign slogan, but all it shows is that he needs more debate prep time and wants to hide behind the financial crisis.

Great quote from Barney Frank.

Poor leadership from John McCain.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 24, 2008 6:29 PM

Barney Frank is part of the problem. In 2003, he said ''These two entities -- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- are not facing any kind of financial crisis," said Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee. "The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing." - from the NY Times (9/11/2003)

John McCain is 72 years old...and a VERY BAD 72 years. He's Senile, and ANGRY, and dilussional!

BOMB , BOMB , BOMB IRAN...he sung to the quitars of this mess. The sooner he dies, the sooner 99.99% of the human race rejoices!

What a charade by the McCain campaign. Bipartisan means joint statements, not oneupsmanship.

Keep posting, LeeHInAlexandria. Your sophomoric logic and simplemindedness perfectly complements the whining and the foaming-at-the-mouth of your party. Your pit bull may have lipstick but it also has rabies.

By the way, it's a good thing no one listened to Jimmy Carter 30 years ago when he warned we needed to develop alternative energy. Yeah, Reagan put a stop to that foolishness. We'd never have had the pleasure of $4 gas.

I thought of this tactic on Monday and suggested to my husband that whoever went to the Hill would look good (not the bailing on the debate part). But that was Monday morning, not Wed afternoon, when these guys have been in heavy negotiations for 6 days now and nearing an agreement.

Remember when McCain and Bush took credit for Webb's GI Bill they both previously opposed????

I hope the Republican leadership in Congress doesn't let McCain disrespect them like this.

Without McCain the House Republicans are impudent????

Bitter pill to swallow even in an election year - bleck!

Ugh... People who post the same content more than once should have ALL their posts deleted.

I'm Sarah Palin. Just smile, wave, and pose.

All of you Obama lovers ask yourselves one question ... what happens IF this is ACTUALLY as bad as the secretary of the treasury says it is? Oh of course the secretary is just exaggerating and things will just go on as normal in your sunny little towns across American. But really, what IF this REALLY is a crisis of historic proportions do you want to listen to some lame debate on foreign policy or do you want your elected officials in Washington? So if time is critical then personally I could care less about hearing a bunch of "hot air" from either Obama or McCain on Friday. You can alway reschedule the debate ... you can't can't reschedule a bank from closing its doors!!! If Obama refuses to come back to Washington and the bill doesn't pass... Obama is toast!!!

Here's another great quote from Barney Frank:

"These two entities -- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- are not facing any kind of financial crisis,'' said Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee. ''The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing."

THERE IS NO FINANCIAL PROBLEM MERELY A MANUFACTURED CRISIS! EVERYONE SHOULD WAKE UP AND STAND DOWN.

"Call me if you need me."

Obama thinks he's running for president of the sophomore class.

Got news for you, Obama.

We don't need you.

Go back to community organizing.

Apparently, the candidates are putting together a joint statement at Senator Obama's suggestion.

Having McCain back in DC will inject presidential politics into the process. This is just another case of horrible judgement.

We need leadership, not a campaign photo op in DC.

McCain Trys To Escape Debate Like Hanoi...

McCain Trys To Escape Debate Like Hanoi...

McCain Trys To Escape Debate Like Hanoi...

Should Sen. McCain have ignored the call from the Senate leadership???

“We all understand the seriousness of the financial crisis,” Reid added. “We also understand that it's the Republican philosophy that has been adhered to totally by Sen. McCain that has gotten us to this Republican crisis that we now find ourselves. We have a Republican proposal they've given us. And we now need some Republican votes to help us with this.”

http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2008/09/23/reid-calls-out-mccain-on-bailout-measure/

Regarding that crack about "Community organizing," "Anonymous," why don't you take that white hood off and identify yourself?
Another political stunt from McCain, just as Sarah Palin was a political stunt. I thought he'd be a formidable contender, not a pathetic liar. This is an embarrassment to our country- his motives are transparent to the world, and should be an embarrassment to conservatives and republicans as well.

Maybe some of you should listen to former President Bill Clinton who says if Democrats want someone to dump on John McCain, he's not the guy.

(From AP)

Some members of his party have been complaining that Clinton has not been enthusiastic enough in his support for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, who defeated Clinton's wife in the primary campaign, and heaping too much praise on McCain.

But Clinton told CNN's "Larry King Live" on Wednesday that he doesn't think "dumping" on McCain or his running mate, Sarah Palin, is a winning strategy. He said undecided voters aren't interested in attacks but solutions for the problems they face.

"I just don't believe that getting up here and hyperventilating about Gov. Palin, or Sen. McCain for that matter, is a productive use of a former president's time and is not a vote-getter," he said, adding that he admires McCain even though he disagrees with several of his positions.

The presence of McCain in Washington will politicize this issue even more and probably hurt far more than it would help...

Great quote from Barney Frank.

Poor leadership from John McCain.

Credit NEEDS to dry up.

That's the problem now, too much credit.

My Mom always said, "you can't borrow your way out of debt"

WE NEED GOOD PAYING JOBS!

Given that McCain is behind in some of the polls, it seems to me he would want to be in as many debates as possible--especially one about foreign policy.

"Country First."

I-DON'T-GET-IT MCCAIN

John McCain Admits It!

At a recent Wall Street Journal board meeting, McCain states, "I know a lot less about economics than I do about military..." Huffington Post

John McCain Asserts It!

At a recent town hall meeting in Florida, on the day that the Dow dropped over 500 points in consequence to Lehman Brothers' demise and Merrill Lynch's takeover, McCain states, "The fundamentals of our economy are strong. Newsweek

John McCain Doesn't Get It!

Regarding the Unemployment Rate
Inauguration Day 2001: 4.2%
Now: 6.1%

Regarding the Budget
Inauguration Day 2001: $281 Billion
Now: $357 Billion

Regarding the National Debt
Inauguration Day 2001: $5.7 Trillion
Now: $9.7 Trillion (CNN)

"The Bamboozle Express"
LMAO!
McCain is looking like a wimpy waffler!

I have no read through a small portion of this thread and have to shame on all of you that attack each other, McCain or Obama. Dear God, can you please discuss this like adults?

I understand that it is a Senator's job to vote on these issues, but two Senators that do not have financial experience and that are both running for president in a volatile environment would not help going back. As the son of someone who has run a company I feel obliged to say something that I learned from my dad. An executive's job is to DELEGATE responsibilities to experts in specific fields while at the same time making sure to INSPIRE and LEAD with decisions that they make after CONFERRING with experts.

McCain and Obama should have released a joint statement, sent their financial brains to Washington to work out a deal and made sure that they could leave for DC in a moments notice. I actually think that the debate should be moved to DC, then everyone wins. The debate is held (the vote will not be held during the time they are on the stage) and both can be present if they are needed.

John McCain is 72 years old...and a VERY BAD 72 years. He's Senile, and ANGRY, and dilussional!

BOMB , BOMB , BOMB IRAN...he sung to the quitars of this mess. The sooner he dies, the sooner 99.99% of the human race rejoices!

Posted by: Harried | September 24, 2008 6:16 PM

>>>I don't know where you get your facts but Obama got into Harvard on scholarship. There was no quota filled because he left the part about race on his application blank.

That is a LIE. Barack Obama has refused to release any of his transcripts from Columbia where he majored in the fluffy subject of "political science", and WITHOUT HONORS. He was not Harvard material without a boost from Affirmative Action.

Well, it's official, Comrade McCain and Socialist Sarah have now proclaimed themselves to be cowards.

Turn them over, they're done.

Handling many things at once is called A.D.D. Leaders are ones who focus on a singular issue when something is in crisis to see it through. All Obama can say is "if they need me, they know where they can call me."

Posted by: LeeHInAlexandria | September 24, 2008 5:41 PM
======================================
ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? DO YOU THINK THAT OUR ENEMIES WILL LET THE PRESIDENT TAKE A TIME OUT? THE PRESIDENT NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE MULTIPLE ISSUES AT ONCE...IF HE CANNOT THEN HE IS NOT FIT TO LEAD.

This will work wonderfully for McCain for one reason and one reason alone: you rabid libs are frothing at the mouth with rage over it lol!!!!!!!! That's historically the best indicator for a move that will play well with the portion of the American public that does not suffer from rabies-induced-liberal-derangement.

So, the one Senator who admits he doesn't know much about the economy has to rush up to Washington to forge a bipartisan solution? The Bamboozle Express takes yet another detour from reality. Am I the only person out there in the ether who would love to put a combat boot up Lindsey Graham's butt. What a weasel.

I understand that this is a huge crisis that this country is facing but yes having both Obama and McCain in Congress would be a distraction because of the political impact this Presidential race has become. McCain hasn't been in Congress missed a huge amount of votes just in the past year why now? Was the other votes not important enough for him to show up especially the ones for the Veterans? The debate is about foreign policy not economics and I for one would like to hear their debate. You can't be a part time President one who decides which votes are important enough to show for and which ones are unimportant enought to have a BBQ in your backyard doing a fundraiser.

Mr "Change" Obamba is stuck is his unchange world..... Good night Obamba.. you are truly an idiot....

"McCain has a pattern of using a crisis to avoid unpleasant situations such as Gustov to avoid Bush/Cheney from showing up live at the convention and now this." I see. So that's why he stayed in the cockpit of his crippled fighter bomber until after he had finished his mission of dropping bombs on Hanoi. Sound dishonorable to you? rcc_2000: you are a vile insect.

It's funny, I emailed the Obama campaign yesterday to suggest that they invite McCain and his advisors to join Obama and his advisors to work on a bipartisan message/plan. It sounds like the Obama campaign had the same idea because Sen. Obama called Sen. McCain at 8:30 this morning to make this suggestion. It took Sen. McCain until 2:30 pm to respond - one can only think that his counter-move to post-pone the campaign and debate is a power play to try to take away the focus from Sen. Obama's gesture to work together. Like Sen. McCain's other actions lately (e.g. choosing Gov. Palin so suddenly and without vetting; calling for firing of Cox; etc.), this seems impetuous and politically motivated.

Sen. Obama and all Americans should demand that Sen. McCain specify just exactly what he would be doing in Washington that requires him to pull out of the debates. My guess is that he is not needed in person . He has missed many important votes this year, so why now? I'll tell you why - the more McCain and Palin have unscripted time in front of the cameras, the more their poll numbers go DOWN.

Sadly, McCain is following the Rove strategy for protecting the country from knowing W's weaknesses - hide your candidate in plain site and only bring him out in front of GOP-friendly crowds....

I hope Sen. Obama and the bipartisan commission on debates hold their ground and keep the debate schedule. Then, watch McCain go on the "unpatriotic" attack mode. So predictable.

I wonder how they'll get Palin out of her debate with Biden? Maybe another weather calamity?

Johnny McSame is a fraud. There is absolutely no need for him on Capitol Hill right now unless we assume that every other Republican Congressman is totally incompetent (maybe not such a far fetched assumption). McSame saw the same poll numbers we did this morning and knew his only hope of preventing a disaster was to come up with some gimmick that might trick the American people into believing he cares more about them then winning the election. Unfortunately for Johnny, no one is buying it. A CNN poll right now shows that 75% of the participant think that Johnny's request is nothing more than a political gimmick. Give it up Johnny, change your Depends, and wait for your inevitable defeat. 6 more weeks and then no more Republican BS to put up with. Obama/Biden 2008!!!

People here in these comments are asking what crisis. If nothing is done about this situation, credit will dry up, with devastating consequences for our economy. People will no longer be able to buy homes and their life savings will be at stake. Businesses will not have enough money to pay their employees. If we do not act, every corner of our country will be impacted.

This cannot be allowed to happen. Doesn't this sound like something Senator Obama should be addressing in Washington?

At least Obama has bothered to show up in the Senate this year, unlike McCain who hasn't voted on anything in the Senate since April 8th. In fact, his voting record the past two years is worse than any other Senator, even worse than the South Dakota senator who had the brain hemorrhage. And now he wants to go to DC?

McCain's "suspension" is a cheap political stunt calculated to raise his personal political fortunes out of a nosedive. (See also, Palin, Repub. Convention.)

Don't fool yourselves, McCain means four more years of radical, extremist politics.

It's time to elect Obama, the one candidate who working people can count on in this election.

"Call me if you need me."

Obama thinks he's running for president of the sophomore class.

Got news for you, Obama.

We don't need you.

Go back to community organizing.

Gimmick. McCain is clueless and desperate. The debate will go on with or without McCancel.

At least Obama has bothered to show up in the Senate this year, unlike McCain who hasn't voted on anything in the Senate since April 8th. In fact, his voting record the past two years is worse than any other Senator, even worse than the South Dakota senator who had the brain hemorrhage. And now he wants to go to DC?

An independent voter/thinker:

I highly doubt that McCain is "scared" to debate Obama on Friday debate when the topic is on foreign policy and national security.

People here in these comments are asking what crisis. If nothing is done about this situation, credit will dry up, with devastating consequences for our economy. People will no longer be able to buy homes and their life savings will be at stake. Businesses will not have enough money to pay their employees. If we do not act, every corner of our country will be impacted.

This cannot be allowed to happen. Doesn't this sound like something Senator Obama should be addressing in Washington?

At least Obama has bothered to show up in the Senate this year, unlike McCain who hasn't voted on anything in the Senate since April 8th. In fact, his voting record the past two years is worse than any other Senator, even worse than the South Dakota senator who had the brain hemorrhage. And now he wants to go to DC?

This is typical Obama. Since McCain was the one to call for the halt to the debate Obama didn't want to be seen as following MaCain's lead so he opposed the return to Washinton request. Obama is always looking for the poltical benefit and by the way ... who cares about the financial crisis because Obama wants to just point fingers at the Bush Administration to cover his partisan tail. This guy makes me sick. Obama has ZERO leadership and is ALL about political posturing. All I can say is he better PRAY that this financial mess gets resolved before the debate because NOBODY is going give a hoot about some lame foreign policy debate when the nation is on the verge of financial collapse. Obama (for once) needs to stop running for president and actually "act" like a US congressman.

Of course McCain is willing to suspend democracy (and probably the elections too) for the Wall St crisis--the Bush/Cheney administration attempted to suspend democracy for the "war on terror."

No running away from this one, McCain!

Seems to me this was a pure political move on McCain's part. If he was really interested in putting country first and quickly passing a bailout bill, then he should have made sure both presidential candidates agreed to suspend the debate and their campaigns prior to any candidate making an announcement. I am already furious about the financial crisis and the lack leadership in Washington from both sides, so the last thing I want is for one of the presidential candidates to try to reap political gains while risking the passage of a bill that protects taxpayers and worsening the financial crisis.

JaxMax you must know, work with or be AsperGirl. You have the same writing style.

Your statements are sophomoric, emotional and poorly presented. You use rhetoric as a a way to present your case but it simply comes across as... As... Well ignorant.

This was a dishonorable and unpatriotic move on the part of McCain. The electoral process is THE foundation of the United States. The candidates have a responsibility to go before the American people and explain why they think they are the best choice. McCain has a pattern of using a crisis to avoid unpleasant situations such as Gustov to avoid Bush/Cheney from showing up live at the convention and now this.

McCain is a wimp and a dishonorable man.

McSame sounds more like a scared old man than a maverick.

I bet he'll have forgotten all about this by tomorrow.

This may be the first debate where one candidates' wardrobe was provided by Depends Adult Under Garments.

McKeeting5 is just one of 100 senators, but he's trying to be 1 of 1 POTUS. I'd rather he and Obama meet and debate the issues than he duck-out of the debate because he's putting "country first".

The financial problem(s) will not be resolved in the 40+ days between now and the election nor the 115+ days until the inauguration. But the next POTUS will have to face the problem(s) and he can tell us now, via the debates, how he will address these issues.

Why the sudden rush back to the Senate, Johnny-boy?

There have been 643 votes taken in the current Senate session: McCain has missed 412 of them.

McCain has not voted in the Senate since April 8th. Since March, he has missed 109 of the last 110 votes.

He missed votes on the GI Bill, energy policy, and in 2007 he missed "all 15 critical environmental votes in the Senate" -- giving him a 2007 rating of 0% from the League of Conservation Voters.
Cheap stunt, just like the Palin choice.

JaxMax you must know, work with or be AsperGirl. You have the same writing style.

Your statements are sophomoric, emotional and poorly presented. You use rhetoric as a a way to present your case but it simply comes across as... As... Well ignorant.

This was a dishonorable and unpatriotic move on the part of McCain. The electoral process is THE foundation of the United States. The candidates have a responsibility to go before the American people and explain why they think they are the best choice. McCain has a pattern of using a crisis to avoid unpleasant situations such as Gustov to avoid Bush/Cheney from showing up live at the convention and now this.

McCain is a wimp and a dishonorable man.

"Well I for one have had just about enough of McCain's antics. If he does not show up on friday to mop the floor with Obama..." Say, as a show of bipartisan spirit they can mop the floor together. It's getting a little sticky from all the bile in this campaign.

McCain must be tired, and not able to get ready.

Obama is right on this one. Any president must be able to multi-task and handle a variety of problems at one time. Frankly, though I am now an older guy (and a Viet Nam Era Vet) I favor giving a new generation of rulers--those with different approaches to old problems and the unlimited energy of younger years--the chance to right this sinking ship. After all, the presidency is a 26-hour-a-day job.

I am guessing McCain would like to cancel Palin's debate too.

Of course McCain wants to delay (or cancel) the debate(s). What exactly does he have to relay to the American people? The republican party has systematically destroyed our economy, gotten us into an illegal war with no end in site, empowered corporate giants, and ignored urgent environmental issues, to name just a few...I can't believe any thinking person with a bit of conscious would even consider putting another republican in charge of the country.

Pure insanity. These debates better go on as planned, or many Americans, including myself, will be highly pis_ed.

Given that John McCain is behind in the polls, it's entirely in his interest to have as many debates as possible with Obama. The fact that he's foregoing a much needed face to face with Obama shows where McCain's true priorities are-- his country. Obama, the nobody from nowhere, obviously only cares about his political career.

ps., to say McCain "is not ready" for a foreign policy debate with Obama is like saying Obama isn't ready to read his telemprompter. This is a debate McCain was widely expect to wipe the floor with Obama. That's why Obama's been downplaying expectations for weeks.

COUNTRY FIRST.

So Mayor McCheese cries about the press reporting his lies and then cries that Obama won't stop beating him and cries that hard things keep happening and he can't take his nappy nap.

And he want us to elect him president? If he and Palin can't handle the press and Obama and, you know, current events on the campaign trail, how can they handle the presidency?

What a joke! Palin is more sequestered than a cloistered nun, Rick Davis is in bed with Freddie and Fannie, the McCain polls are tanking, and now Johnny Mac loses his, er, nerve and wants to postpone or cancel the debate.

Don't vote for McCain. He is ready for the retirement home --- does that make eight houses?

McKeeting5 is just one of 100 senators, but he's trying to be 1 of 1 POTUS. I'd rather he and Obama meet and debate the issues than he duck-out of the debate because he's putting "country first".

The financial problem(s) will not be resolved in the 40+ days between now and the election nor the 115+ days until the inauguration. But the next POTUS will have to face the problem(s) and he can tell us now, via the debates, how he will address these issues.

McCain is struggling with whether to go with the bailout. Obama has said he supports it.

Many Americans don't want the bailout -- they want to hang wall street greed out to dry, and use the money to help Main Street.

McCain is trying to figure out what to do by being on the ground to talk and figure out what is best for the American people. That is what leaders do.

Let hussein debate himself!

Put him onstage in his Styrofoam Greek Temple and let him talk and talk and talk - about himself, of course.

Then the American people will see what a shallow, arrogant, platitude-spouting, inexperienced, elitist, drug-addicted, narcissistic, flip-flopping gas-bag the d-crats are trying to foist on them!

Haha, oh McCain is going to add his immense expertise on the economy? I'm sure if congress needs an "almost last in his class" aviator's opinion on how to fix the economy, then his two cents is welcome.

I have decided there will be no debate and no campaigning. Remind you of someone?

It's because McCain feels threatened by a young, intelligent, taller, black man, so he wants to avoid him by walking across the street." Intelligent? C+ average at Columbia. Did not graduate with honors in a school known for grade inflation. Young? 71 may be senior but 47 is no spring chicken? Black? He's a mulatto. Wants to avoid him by walking across the street? Maybe McCain wants to avoid the shower of spittle if the Puppet gets in his face.

Posted by: greg3 | September 24, 2008 5:57 PM

--------------------------

greg3,

I don't know where you get your facts but Obama got into Harvard on scholarship. There was no quota filled because he left the part about race on his application blank. He was also head of the Harvard Review.

I think people saying Obama performed poorly in school really have no clue what they are talking about.

Don't we already have a president in Washington who is supposed to be leading?

Posted by: HideFromtheDebate | September 24, 2008 5:59 PM

The President is a socialist (read closet Democrat) on economic policy which is why John McCain should take the bill and shove it back in Harry Reid's face.

You can put lipstick on a chicken, but it's still a chicken.

McCain know the focus of the debate will shift to the economy. He wants to know what Washington comes up with, so he get sez the right things. Debating now is too risky.

GIMMICK ALERT!
GIMMICK ALERT!
GIMMICK ALERT!

What happens when Gimmick Palin doesn't work out, employ another GIMMICK...and make it DRAMATIC. Nice try, Repubs. Try again.

So McCain and Obama are senators and are supposed to be doing the job of senators. Why in a time of crisis is one of the senators more interested in a job interview than doing his job?
This is no stunt, it is recognizing work needs to be doing and rolling up your sleeves to do it.

McCain is getting more pathetic everyday. What kind of leader would he be? He can't manage more than one thing at a time. Grow a spine! He's too feeble.

McCain hasn't been to the Senate since APRIL!
All of the sudden, he has to run away, he knows nothing about the economy, he has said so. Phil Gramm, his financial adviser and him, DEREGUALTION, well, between deregulating everything and TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY, SEE HOW GREAT EVERYTHING IS!
RONALD REAGAN SAID, GOVERNEMNT IS THE PROBLEM, WELL NOW RONNIE,
YOUR PRECIOUS GOP 9Greedy Old Pigs) ARE SOCIALIZING WALL STREET!
For all of you who say Obama is a socialist and a Marxist, TOO LATE, THE GOP TOOK THAT TALKING POINT AWAY FROM HIM ALSO.
Like Change
Pulling out of Iraq
well every idea Obama has, it's a couple of days later, McCain claims it to be is. Very flattering, but the difference is, MCCAIN DOESN'T MEAN A WORD OF WHAT HE SAYS.
FOR ALL OF YOU WHO VOTED FOR BUSH, especially in 2004, YOU OWE AMERICANS AN APOLOGY!

McCain loves his country--

Obama loves himself

REPUBLICANS,

YOUR CANDIDATE'S CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SUSPENDED.

STOP BLOGGING.

McCain is struggling with whether to go with the bailout. Obama has said he supports it.

Many Americans don't want the bailout -- they want to hang wall street greed out to dry, and use the money to help Main Street.

McCain is trying to figure out what to do by being on the ground to talk and figure out what is best for the American people. That is what leaders do.

"The voters will decide.

The candidate who dropped everything to go to Washington to try to keep everybody's savings from evaporating.

Or the ingénue who debated himself.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 24, 2008 5:58 PM"

---

First of all, he's not really needed there, he is not part of the group of experts who will be reshaping this bill, he'd be like the little dog following around the bulldog's legs. Secondly, he's going to find time to do an event with Clinton but not the debate?

Oh and, it was Obama's idea, McCain pulled a fast one.

on and none of Sarah Palin's kids play hockey either, she's not even a hockey mom.

He should permenantly suspend it.

McChicken is chickening out with master Bush at his side. Bush 43 is playing politics in this General election. Remember the Israili Knesett and his lecture there? McBush are synchronising their moves. Shame on BUSH. Can't even go out in peace without Karl Rove in his pants!!

"McCain would begin unilaterally pulling down his campaign ads and cease fundraising."

OK, he got his $84 million so he shouldn't be fundraising anyway. But he's suggesting in a roundabout way that now Obama should also cease fundraising and stop campaigning to work on this banking mess? Yeahhhhhh, right. And if you fall for that I have a bridge in Alaska that I'll sell you......

Obama is completely correct here. McCain should not hide from the debate - focusing on the economic catastrophe created by Bush/Cheney will be part of being president and should be part of any serious contender's campaign for president.

I am beginning to wonder if McCain really has the stomach for the complexities and multiple focuses of the job.

He needs to stop listening to Rick Davis and Carl Rove..and just be himself. That way, even if he loses, he will be himself...not what he seems to be devolving into.

JaxMax you must know, work with or be AsperGirl. You have the same writing style.

Your statements are sophomoric, emotional and poorly presented. You use rhetoric as a a way to present your case but it simply comes across as... As... Well ignorant.

This was a dishonorable and unpatriotic move on the part of McCain. The electoral process is THE foundation of the United States. The candidates have a responsibility to go before the American people and explain why they think they are the best choice. McCain has a pattern of using a crisis to avoid unpleasant situations such as Gustov to avoid Bush/Cheney from showing up live at the convention and now this.

McCain is a wimp and a dishonorable man.

No More Karl Ro\/e style adds running until the CRISIS is o\/er

McCain could have avoided all hint of partisanship by making arrangements with Obama before speaking to the public and arranging a joint statement.

He chose instead to make a unilateral statement that is easily perceived as serving his own partisan interests.

If he is being misinterpreted now, he can only blame in on yet the most recent of his many recent misjudgments.

From:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/09/mccain-trailing-in-polls-continues.html

Wednesday, September 24, 2008
McCain, Trailing in Polls, Continues Campaign By "Suspending" It

John McCain, trailing by 9 points in national polls, has announced that he is "suspending" his campaign.

Having lost significant ground to Obama on the issue of the economy, and facing a potentially defining and withering debate on Friday where he would be confronted on his statements on the economy that have led to this sharp decline, McCain has attempted to change the rules of the game, to erase many past errors through a putatively "unpolitical" move--something we have seen before.

A simple question: Under the same economic conditions, if McCain had been leading, does anyone believe that McCain would have "suspended" his campaign?

This is the ultimate in cynicism--using the current conditions in order to attempt to blunt a sharp decline and try to control the media dialogue, through a political act designed to avoid a potential political debacle. He is continuing his campaign--which was leading to loss in all directions--by "suspending" it. It is an attempt to silence media criticism and questions--and to prevent a debate on these issues that for him is sharply unfavorable. As such, it is impulsivity masked as statesmanship, as well as an attempt to control the media dialogue, as we saw yesterday at the U.N.,--factors we have seen all along. He wants to attempt to force media to avoid covering openly his flailing campaign, the cynically political masked as the unpolitical, as we saw in the VP pick. Don't be fooled.

McCain is attempting to avoid the debate in the face of this decline, through the type of evasion and lack of press access and communication that has characterized his campaign. It shows an extraordinary willingness to use difficult conditions to erase and avoid political errors, and serve political needs.

He surely would like to put off the debate, and attempt to create more favorable conditions for it.

This is just the time for a debate. We can work on solutions as well. Don't be cowed.

Cite:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/09/mccain-trailing-in-polls-continues.html

"The voters will decide.

The candidate who dropped everything to go to Washington to try to keep everybody's savings from evaporating.

Or the ingénue who debated himself.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 24, 2008 5:58 PM"

---

First of all, he's not really needed there, he is not part of the group of experts who will be reshaping this bill, he'd be like the little dog following around the bulldog's legs. Secondly, he's going to find time to do an event with Clinton but not the debate?

Oh, and, it was Obama's idea, McCain pulled a fast one.

Oh, and none of Sarah Palin's kids play hockey either, she's not even a hockey mom.

At least there is one adult running for the highest office.

FACTS ARE FACTS --

How the Democrats Created the Financial Crisis: Kevin Hassett

Enough cards on this table have been turned over that the story is now clear. The economic history books will describe this episode in simple and understandable terms: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac exploded, and many bystanders were injured in the blast, some fatally.
Fannie and Freddie did this by becoming a key enabler of the mortgage crisis. They fueled Wall Street's efforts to securitize subprime loans by becoming the primary customer of all AAA-rated subprime-mortgage pools. In addition, they held an enormous portfolio of mortgages themselves.

Take away Fannie and Freddie, or regulate them more wisely, and it's hard to imagine how these highly liquid markets would ever have emerged. This whole mess would never have happened.

It is easy to identify the historical turning point that marked the beginning of the end.

Back in 2005, Fannie and Freddie were, after years of dominating Washington, on the ropes. They were enmeshed in accounting scandals that led to turnover at the top. At one telling moment in late 2004, captured in an article by my American Enterprise Institute colleague Peter Wallison, the Securities and Exchange Comiission's chief accountant told disgraced Fannie Mae chief Franklin Raines that Fannie's position on the relevant accounting issue was not even ``on the page'' of allowable interpretations.

Then legislative momentum emerged for an attempt to create a ``world-class regulator'' that would oversee the pair more like banks, imposing strict requirements on their ability to take excessive risks. Politicians who previously had associated themselves proudly with the two accounting miscreants were less eager to be associated with them. The time was ripe.

The clear gravity of the situation pushed the legislation forward. Some might say the current mess couldn't be foreseen, yet in 2005 Alan Greenspan told Congress how urgent it was for it to act in the clearest possible terms: If Fannie and Freddie ``continue to grow, continue to have the low capital that they have, continue to engage in the dynamic hedging of their portfolios, which they need to do for interest rate risk aversion, they potentially create ever-growing potential systemic risk down the road,'' he said. ``We are placing the total financial system of the future at a substantial risk.''

What happened next was extraordinary. For the first time in history, a serious Fannie and Freddie reform bill was passed by the Senate Banking Committee. The bill gave a regulator power to crack down, and would have required the companies to eliminate their investments in risky assets.

Different World

If that bill had become law, then the world today would be different. In 2005, 2006 and 2007, a blizzard of terrible mortgage paper fluttered out of the Fannie and Freddie clouds, burying many of our oldest and most venerable institutions. Without their checkbooks keeping the market liquid and buying up excess supply, the market would likely have not existed.

But the bill didn't become law, for a simple reason: Democrats opposed it on a party-line vote in the committee, signaling that this would be a partisan issue. Republicans, tied in knots by the tight Democratic opposition, couldn't even get the Senate to vote on the matter.

That such a reckless political stand could have been taken by the Democrats was obscene even then. Wallison wrote at the time: ``It is a classic case of socializing the risk while privatizing the profit. The Democrats and the few Republicans who oppose portfolio limitations could not possibly do so if their constituents understood what they were doing.''

Mounds of Materials

Now that the collapse has occurred, the roadblock built by Senate Democrats in 2005 is unforgivable. Many who opposed the bill doubtlessly did so for honorable reasons. Fannie and Freddie provided mounds of materials defending their practices. Perhaps some found their propaganda convincing.

But we now know that many of the senators who protected Fannie and Freddie, including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Christopher Dodd, have received mind-boggling levels of financial support from them over the years.

Throughout his political career, Obama has gotten more than $125,000 in campaign contributions from employees and political action committees of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, second only to Dodd, the Senate Banking Committee chairman, who received more than $165,000.

Oh, and there is one little footnote to the story that's worth keeping in mind while Democrats point fingers between now and Nov. 4:
Senator John McCain was one of the three cosponsors of S.190, the bill that would have averted this mess.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_hassett&sid=aSKSoiNbnQY0

GIMMICK ALERT!
GIMMICK ALERT!
GIMMICK ALERT!

What happens when Gimmick Palin doesn't work out, employ another GIMMICK...and make it DRAMATIC. Nice try, Repubs. Try again.

GIMMICK ALERT!
GIMMICK ALERT!
GIMMICK ALERT!

What happens when Gimmick Palin doesn't work out, employ another GIMMICK...and make it DRAMATIC. Nice try, Repubs. Try again.

So Mayor McCheese cries about the press reporting his lies and then cries that Obama won't stop beating him and cries that there are hard things keeps happening and he can't take his nappy nap.

And he want us to elect him president? If he and Palin can't handle the press and Obama and, you know, current events on the campaign trail, how can they handle the presidency?

Okay, this is getting into troll-feeding territory, but LeeHInAlexandria writes, about Obama:

"he needs a teleprompter in order to get his words out. When off the teleprompter, he is as dumb as a post. Dumber than Paris Hilton.

Watch even five minutes of this:

http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080115/VIDEO/80115026

Then come back and tell me, with a straight face, that Obama can't talk without a teleprompter. McCain, on the other hand....

Regards,
Beren

"The voters will decide.

The candidate who dropped everything to go to Washington to try to keep everybody's savings from evaporating.

Or the ingénue who debated himself.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 24, 2008 5:58 PM"

---

First of all, he's not really needed there, he is not part of the group of experts who will be reshaping this bill, he'd be like the little dog following around the bulldog's legs. Secondly, he's going to find time to do an event with Clinton but not the debate?

Oh, and, it was Obama's idea, McCain pulled a fast one.

Oh, and none of Sarah Palin's kids play hockey either, she's not even a hockey mom.

JaxMax you must know, work with or be AsperGirl. You have the same writing style.

Your statements are sophomoric, emotional and poorly presented. You use rhetoric as a a way to present your case but it simply comes across as... As... Well ignorant.

This was a dishonorable and unpatriotic move on the part of McCain. The electoral process is THE foundation of the United States. The candidates have a responsibility to go before the American people and explain why they think they are the best choice. McCain has a pattern of using a crisis to avoid unpleasant situations such as Gustov to avoid Bush/Cheney from showing up live at the convention and now this.

McCain is a wimp and a dishonorable man.

JaxMax you must know, work with or be AsperGirl. You have the same writing style.

Your statements are sophomoric, emotional and poorly presented. You use rhetoric as a a way to present your case but it simply comes across as... As... Well ignorant.

This was a dishonorable and unpatriotic move on the part of McCain. The electoral process is THE foundation of the United States. The candidates have a responsibility to go before the American people and explain why they think they are the best choice. McCain has a pattern of using a crisis to avoid unplesant situations such as Gustov to avoid Bush/Cheney from showing up live at the convention and now this.

McCain is a wimp and a dishonorable man.

Sounds like McSame is more a scared old man than a maverick.

I bet by tomorrow he'll have forgotten he did this.

This may be the first debate where one of the candidates wardrobe was provide by Depends.

Obama is a real politician, he will never commit anything, take everyone views and add on it.
Does Fed Tresurary need this approval from the congress?.
When Fed bail out AIG and Fredi mac etc. all democrats were shouting that one person has so much power to use more than 800 billion doller(Nancy on CNN) What happen to those powers. Let him do his job and keep all the politician to concentrate about incoming election. Don't expect right decision from a politician who has to face election in two months.

If McCain was not posturing he would have worked things out with Obama behind the scenes, like Obama tried to do.

I think Obama's line was perfect. Presidents need to multi-task.

No More Karl Ro\/e style adds running until the CRISIS is o\/er

JaxMax you must know, work with or be AsperGirl. You have the same writing style.

Your statements are sophomoric, emotional and poorly presented. You use rhetoric as a a way to present your case but it simply comes across as... As... Well ignorant.

This was a dishonorable and unpatriotic move on the part of McCain. The electoral process is THE foundation of the United States. The candidates have a responsibility to go before the American people and explain why they think they are the best choice. McCain has a pattern of using a crisis to avoid unpleasant situations such as Gustov to avoid Bush/Cheney from showing up live at the convention and now this.

McCain is a wimp and a dishonorable man.

Chicken little cancelled, AWWWWWWWWWWWW!
He'll show up a day late and a dollar short but still take credit for it,you watch. Like the GI Bill he was so against and now uses it in speeches like he helped get it passed. Worthless he is.

No More Karl Ro\/e style adds running until the CRISIS is o\/er

McCain could have avoided all hint of partisanship by making arrangements with Obama before speaking to the public and arranging a joint statement.

He chose instead to make a unilateral statement that is easily perceived as serving his own partisan interests.

If he is being misinterpreted now, he can only blame in on yet the most recent of his many recent misjudgments.

At least there is one adult running for the highest office.

FACTS ARE FACTS --

How the Democrats Created the Financial Crisis: Kevin Hassett

Enough cards on this table have been turned over that the story is now clear. The economic history books will describe this episode in simple and understandable terms: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac exploded, and many bystanders were injured in the blast, some fatally.
Fannie and Freddie did this by becoming a key enabler of the mortgage crisis. They fueled Wall Street's efforts to securitize subprime loans by becoming the primary customer of all AAA-rated subprime-mortgage pools. In addition, they held an enormous portfolio of mortgages themselves.

Take away Fannie and Freddie, or regulate them more wisely, and it's hard to imagine how these highly liquid markets would ever have emerged. This whole mess would never have happened.

It is easy to identify the historical turning point that marked the beginning of the end.

Back in 2005, Fannie and Freddie were, after years of dominating Washington, on the ropes. They were enmeshed in accounting scandals that led to turnover at the top. At one telling moment in late 2004, captured in an article by my American Enterprise Institute colleague Peter Wallison, the Securities and Exchange Comiission's chief accountant told disgraced Fannie Mae chief Franklin Raines that Fannie's position on the relevant accounting issue was not even ``on the page'' of allowable interpretations.

Then legislative momentum emerged for an attempt to create a ``world-class regulator'' that would oversee the pair more like banks, imposing strict requirements on their ability to take excessive risks. Politicians who previously had associated themselves proudly with the two accounting miscreants were less eager to be associated with them. The time was ripe.

The clear gravity of the situation pushed the legislation forward. Some might say the current mess couldn't be foreseen, yet in 2005 Alan Greenspan told Congress how urgent it was for it to act in the clearest possible terms: If Fannie and Freddie ``continue to grow, continue to have the low capital that they have, continue to engage in the dynamic hedging of their portfolios, which they need to do for interest rate risk aversion, they potentially create ever-growing potential systemic risk down the road,'' he said. ``We are placing the total financial system of the future at a substantial risk.''

What happened next was extraordinary. For the first time in history, a serious Fannie and Freddie reform bill was passed by the Senate Banking Committee. The bill gave a regulator power to crack down, and would have required the companies to eliminate their investments in risky assets.

Different World

If that bill had become law, then the world today would be different. In 2005, 2006 and 2007, a blizzard of terrible mortgage paper fluttered out of the Fannie and Freddie clouds, burying many of our oldest and most venerable institutions. Without their checkbooks keeping the market liquid and buying up excess supply, the market would likely have not existed.

But the bill didn't become law, for a simple reason: Democrats opposed it on a party-line vote in the committee, signaling that this would be a partisan issue. Republicans, tied in knots by the tight Democratic opposition, couldn't even get the Senate to vote on the matter.

That such a reckless political stand could have been taken by the Democrats was obscene even then. Wallison wrote at the time: ``It is a classic case of socializing the risk while privatizing the profit. The Democrats and the few Republicans who oppose portfolio limitations could not possibly do so if their constituents understood what they were doing.''

Mounds of Materials

Now that the collapse has occurred, the roadblock built by Senate Democrats in 2005 is unforgivable. Many who opposed the bill doubtlessly did so for honorable reasons. Fannie and Freddie provided mounds of materials defending their practices. Perhaps some found their propaganda convincing.

But we now know that many of the senators who protected Fannie and Freddie, including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Christopher Dodd, have received mind-boggling levels of financial support from them over the years.

Throughout his political career, Obama has gotten more than $125,000 in campaign contributions from employees and political action committees of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, second only to Dodd, the Senate Banking Committee chairman, who received more than $165,000.

Oh, and there is one little footnote to the story that's worth keeping in mind while Democrats point fingers between now and Nov. 4:
Senator John McCain was one of the three cosponsors of S.190, the bill that would have averted this mess.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_hassett&sid=aSKSoiNbnQY0

Sounds more like a scared old man than a maverick.

There is a crisis in Washington and we must suspend all the rules. Remind you of someone?

Too bad Mac can't walk and chew gum at the same time... that's a job requirement!!

"McCain would begin unilaterally pulling down his campaign ads and cease fundraising."

OK, he got his $84 million so he shouldn't be fundraising anyway. But he's suggesting in a roundabout way that now Obama should also cease fundraising and stop campaigning to work on this banking mess? Yeahhhhhh, right. And if you fall for that I have a bridge in Alaska that I'll sell you......

No More Karl Ro\/e style adds running until the CRISIS is o\/er

"Country First."

NOw....Obama.... you get your skinny butt to Washington AND DO YOUR JOB!!!

Not Berlin.

Not San Francisco.

Not Los Angeles.

Washington... AND RIGHT FRIGGIN' NOW!!

DO YOUR JOB!!

THE JOB TAXPAYERS PAY YOU TO DO!!

Don't we already have a president in Washington who is supposed to be leading?

Posted by: HideFromtheDebate | September 24, 2008 5:59 PM

The President is a socialist (read closet Democrat) on economic policy which is why John McCain should take the bill and shove it up Harry Reid's a**.

Don't we already have a president in Washington who is supposed to be leading?

Posted by: HideFromtheDebate | September 24, 2008 5:59 PM

The President is a socialist (read closet Democrat) on economic policy which is why John McCain should take the bill and shove it back in Harry Reid's face.

No More Karl Ro\/e style adds running until the CRISIS is o\/er

"Country First."

NOw....Obama.... you get your skinny butt to Washington AND DO YOUR JOB!!!

Not Berlin.

Not San Francisco.

Not Los Angeles.

Washington... AND RIGHT FRIGGIN' NOW!!

DO YOUR JOB!!

THE JOB TAXPAYERS PAY YOU TO DO!!

"McCain would begin unilaterally pulling down his campaign ads and cease fundraising."

OK, he got his $84 million so he shouldn't be fundraising anyway. But he's suggesting in a roundabout way that now Obama should also cease fundraising and stop campaigning to work on this banking mess? Yeahhhhhh, right. And if you fall for that I have a bridge in Alaska that I'll sell you......

John McCain is arrogant. He confesses that he knows very little about our economy, and then presumes to run to D.C. and save it. I'm disappointed in him, primarily because I think he's "playing for time" to get it together to debate Obama. I give up! I'm not voting. I can't imagine Reagan or either Bush pulling this stunt. Disgusting.

A Republican congress and McCain can not get a bill passed. The Republicans ignored him then we should now.

Don't we already have a president in Washington who is supposed to be leading?

Posted by: HideFromtheDebate | September 24, 2008 5:59 PM

The President is a socialist (read closet Democrat) on economic policy which is why John McCain should take the bill and shove it up Harry Reid's a**.

No More Karl Ro\/e style adds running until the CRISIS is o\/er

There is a crisis in Washington and we must suspend all the rules. Remind you of someone?

"Country First."

NOw....Obama.... you get your skinny butt to Washington AND DO YOUR JOB!!!

Not Berlin.

Not San Francisco.

Not Los Angeles.

Washington... AND RIGHT FRIGGIN' NOW!!

DO YOUR JOB!!

THE JOB TAXPAYERS PAY YOU TO DO!!

greg3:

we're not all angry...
watching you make a fool of yourself on these boards while trying to upset people who disagree with you is fun for us too!

Poor Obama and his "bad news" advisors! You're a Senator and you should be voting on an important issue, or is it that you're afraid to vote on it and have that vote haunt you in the debates and on Nov 4th? That was a great response, Barry H Obama.."call me, if you need me"...I can tell you now, no one needs you. So Obama is afraid to commit to an answer again! Haha! What a total juvenile! I guess Barry's sitting in Florida saying to himself, "I wonder what George McGovern would do?"

Let hussein debate himself!

Put him onstage in his Styrofoam Greek Temple and let him talk and talk and talk - about himself, of course.

Then the American people will see what a shallow, arrogant, platitude-spouting, inexperienced, elitist, drug-addicted, narcissistic, flip-flopping gas-bag the d-crats are trying to foist on them!

If McCain was not posturing he would have worked things out with Obama behind the scenes, like Obama tried to do.

I think Obama's line was perfect. Presidents need to multi-task.

"COUNTRY FIRST"

Gee, well if the hand-out, I mean "bail-out" is so important, maybe we should just postpone the entire election until the Dow comes back up north of 12,000? Then we'll know that the polling places are safe once more for Republicans, eh?

Poor Obama and his "bad news" advisors! You're a Senator and you should be voting on an important issue, or is it that you're afraid to vote on it and have that vote haunt you in the debates and on Nov 4th? That was a great response, Barry H Obama.."call me, if you need me"...I can tell you now, no one needs you. So Obama is afraid to commit to an answer again! Haha! What a total juvenile! I guess Barry's sitting in Florida saying to himself, "I wonder what George McGovern would do?"

"And exactly why should the government be in this business of regulating this?"

Oh, for the same reasons there should be laws against fraud.

greg3:

we're not all angry...
watching you make a fool of yourself on these boards while trying to upset people who disagree with you is fun for us too!

greg3:

we're not all angry...
watching you make a fool of yourself on these boards while trying to upset people who disagree with you is fun for us too!

McCain overreacted again. The voters HATE this bill--bailing out fat cats at their expense. McCain knows this and tried to distance himself. Reid called him on it and said he HAD to vote for it, or no deal. So McCain's distancing strategy is a no-go. Obama offered him a low-drama way to take his lumps--a joint statement that said they both are on board. But McCain went for the Hail Mary pass. The outcome: When something passes at 8:00am Monday morning, McCain is going to be INTIMATELY tied to it, and voters agoing to HATE him for leading the effort to bail out the fat cats. He took a small problem and is about to turn it into a HUGE one for himself.

First of all Sen. McCain is calling for a POSTPONEMENT not a cancellation. Second, Sen. McCain has asked Obama for one-on-one townhall meetings for MONTHS to discuss the issues and his invitations were never accepted. Third, Sen. Obama has said he would act in a non-partisan manner if elected President. Well, THIS is the perfect opportunity to prove it. Let's put our priorities in order. We have over 40 days until the election. Lastly, for the people calling Sen. McCain a coward or worse, you are only showing your ignorance.

Given that John McCain is behind in the polls, it's entirely in his interest to have as many debates as possible with Obama.. The fact that he's foregoing a much needed face to face with Obama shows where McCain's true priorities are-- his country. Obama, the nobody from nowhere, obviously only cares about his political career.

ps., to say McCain "is not ready" for a foreign policy debate is like saying Obama isn't ready to read his telemprompter. This is a debate McCain was widely expect to wipe the floor with Obama. That's why Obama's been downplaying expectations for weeks.

COUNTRY FIRST.

Why McCain went before TV cameras instead to follow up his opponent call regarding this crisis and seek a joint statement? He definitely needs new and shine ideas from his young rival.

Obviously McCain trying to fillup the gap and playing the poll. We understand his game.

And we thought the rookie moose-hunting Governor of Alaska was a cheap stunt?
This act of cowardice takes the cake. Where has McCain been the last 12 months? Certainly not on the Senate floor as he has missed 80% of votes cast. What a buffoon.

I think the WP/ABC poll results, rather than the economy, is what is behind McCain's desire to suspend campaigning and return to Washington for the bailout debate and vote. And that's bogus, because the technology exists so that Senators could vote remotely via a secure video hookup or they could postpone the vote until Saturday and that would give them time to get back into town vote. Meanwhile they can watch the hearings via C-Span and participate in the debate via a video conferencing connection.

McCain is just trying to grandstand 'cause the polls are turning against him.

I think the WP/ABC poll results, rather than the economy, is what is behind McCain's desire to suspend campaigning and return to Washington for the bailout debate and vote. And that's bogus, because the technology exists so that Senators could vote remotely via a secure video hookup or they could postpone the vote until Saturday and that would give them time to get back into town vote. Meanwhile they can watch the hearings via C-Span and participate in the debate via a video conferencing connection.

McCain is just trying to grandstand 'cause the polls are turning against him.

I think the WP/ABC poll results, rather than the economy, is what is behind McCain's desire to suspend campaigning and return to Washington for the bailout debate and vote. And that's bogus, because the technology exists so that Senators could vote remotely via a secure video hookup or they could postpone the vote until Saturday and that would give them time to get back into town vote. Meanwhile they can watch the hearings via C-Span and participate in the debate via a video conferencing connection.

McCain is just trying to grandstand 'cause the polls are turning against him.

I think the WP/ABC poll results, rather than the economy, is what is behind McCain's desire to suspend campaigning and return to Washington for the bailout debate and vote. And that's bogus, because the technology exists so that Senators could vote remotely via a secure video hookup or they could postpone the vote until Saturday and that would give them time to get back into town vote. Meanwhile they can watch the hearings via C-Span and participate in the debate via a video conferencing connection.

McCain is just trying to grandstand 'cause the polls are turning against him.

And we thought the rookie moose-hunting Governor of Alaska was a cheap stunt?
This act of cowardice takes the cake. Where has McCain been the last 12 months? Certainly not on the Senate floor as he has missed 80% of votes cast. What a buffoon.

Several days ago Mr. Obama made his statement about the things that are necessary in such a bailout. They include, in part, that there be oversight, that the taxpayers get an actual stake in the companies, that regulations be put in place to prevent the banks from continuing to do the same thing that put us in this mess, that the people responsible not be rewarded for their negligence. This was issued before McCain ever came up with anything and should be enough to make his position known. Those who claim that Mr. Obama is negligent are just repeating talking points issued from the Rove undisclosed location and have no idea of what they are talking about.

Given that Mr McCain has absolutely no credibility in economic matters, I shouldn't have to point out that for him to mess with this situation will only make matters worse. After all, it is his advisers who set the stage for this fiasco and he himself who has been voting to deregulate. Furthermore, he can't seem to make up his mind even now about whether or not there should be regulations. How long ago was it that he last said that the fundamentals of our economy are strong? How can he blame Mr. Cox for not regulating when Mr. McCain himself did away with the regulations. And does anyone actually think that in a couple days he has all of a sudden learned enough about the situation to do any good?!

Anyone who believes that his action is not an attempt to flee from a confrontation with Mr. Obama believes that oil had nothing to do with the invasion of Iraq.

Well I for one have had just about enough of McCain's antics. If he does not show up on friday to mop the floor with Obama, he can forget about my vote. I'll stay home on election night.

Okay, this is getting into troll-feeding territory, but LeeHInAlexandria writes, about Obama:

"he needs a teleprompter in order to get his words out. When off the teleprompter, he is as dumb as a post. Dumber than Paris Hilton.

Watch even five minutes of this:

http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080115/VIDEO/80115026

Then come back and tell me, with a straight face, that Obama can't talk without a teleprompter. McCain, on the other hand....

Regards,
Beren

Did you hear? McCain has suspended his campaign! Obama really screwed up, McCain said country first, Obama said, I have no plan, no ideas, but if they want some coffee or something I'm sure they'll call me! I mean McCain may be over acting a bit, but Obama looks like an inept dolt... Ooops!

Perfect decision by Obama. A president should be able to carry out multiple tasks and should not have knee-jerk reactions. Obama displayed correct judgement, confidence, maturity, and leadership.

Exactly, and I want to see and hear how Mr McCain stacks up against Obama during a debate on this subject. While I question the term leadership when it applies to the White House, Bush is still supposed to be running this country, not candidates. So step up McCain, lets here how you do in a debate.

Don't we already have a president in Washington who is supposed to be leading?

Posted by: HideFromtheDebate

The election process is the process and parts of that process are the debates regardless of who thinks they are inconsequential. Sure some/most know who they are voting for at this point but that's beside the point. There is no justifiable reason to cancel the debate. If that's the case how about we just cancel the voting process all together? Not sure what McCain is up to but I know for DAMN sure it's not for the betterment of me or the economy. McCain FYI, this economic crisis is not new but you wouldn't know anything about that with 13 calls and all; or is it 14 seeing as though you don't know so spare me this latest bull crap you are trying to throw. Besides, what the hell do you think you are going to accomplish in 2 days? McDoofus!

Mccain accepts Obama's plan to issue joint statement then claims it was his (Mccain's) idea! Then after realizing he is not ready to debate Obama on the economy after a one hour cram session in the library,he dares to pretend that he is delaying the debate for us!! please media sto saying it was Mccain's idea,Obama phoned Mccain six hours earlier to propose it.

_________________________________________

You obviously didn't read the timeline b/c you are absolutely wrong on the timeline. And the debate is on Nation Security and Foreign Policies, duh?

BTW Obama is a socialist!

A Republican congress and McCain can not get a bill passed. The Republicans ignored him then we should now.

John McChicken McCain!!!!

Can you say Politics of Fear?

Last thing we need is a quick half baked "solution".

Yes, McSame is trying his best to alter people thinking. First, he doesn't know about the economy, he doesn't know how many homes he own and doesn't know how to text.

The economy is a long-term problem we citizens will fix. Therefore, McSame will go to DC and appear as if he really cares about the economy and learn everything about it in a few days. He may think that it is the taxpayers fault and not Wall Street after all (what a leader he will be) because were so call "WHINERS"

And, Bush, by the way, will address the nation and want American citizens support.

A TRUE leader leads and leads others in getting things done. A leader is not very effective when he is far away.

Posted by: LeeHInAlexandria | September 24, 2008 5:56 PM
__________________

As in out of touch. Lacking skills necessary to multi-task. McCan't just is a bit too old for the pressure and responsibility. He'll bail on responsibilities when in the White House too. His desperate gesture only works for those to dense to see through it. All of a sudden he returns to congress...after all these months. Go ahead fall for it. How embarrasssing

FYI, the word from the McCain camp is that they are suggesting the first P debate be moved to Oct 2, which is originally scheduled for the first VP debate. Subsequently, the VP debate will be held a week later in MS.

I wonder if McCain maybe has had a minor stroke, or a nervous breakdown.

David123456: Senate Bill 190 was typical Republican smoke and mirrors - it would have shifted oversight AWAY from the Federal government to an independent entity, i.e. no oversight whatsoever. And it died in a Republican committee.

Posted by: justathought3 | September 24, 2008 5:55 PM

And exactly why should the government be in this business of regulating this? In '95, the Clinton administration essentially put a gun to the heads of the banks and lending institutions by enforcing the CRA (Community Reinvestment Act) which started this whole mess. President Bush and the Republicans (the conservatives, not the socialist wing of the party) tried to institute some sort of independent reform, but were shot down at every turn by the Dumbocrats.

Perfect decision by Obama. A president shouild be able to carry out multiple tasks and should not have knee-jerk reactions. Obama displayed correct judgement, confidence, maturity, and leadership.

i think that is dumb!!!!!!!!!!!you suck...i hope obama wins

Obama's right, a president has to be able to do more than one thing. If McCain is unable to do that, he should withdraw.

Let the debate go on.

McCain should just send Palin in his place

John McCain is arrogant. He confesses that he knows very little about our economy, and then presumes to run to D.C. and save it. I'm disappointed in him, primarily because I think he's "playing for time" to get it together to debate Obama. I give up! I'm not voting. I can't imagine Reagan or either Bush pulling this stunt. Disgusting.

Poor Obama and his "bad news" advisors! You're a Senator and you should be voting on an important issue, or is it that you're afraid to vote on it and have that vote haunt you in the debates and on Nov 4th? That was a great response, Barry H Obama.."call me, if you nedd me"...I can tell you now, no one needs you. So Obama is afraid to commit to an answer again! Haha! What a total juvenile! I guess Barry's sitting in Florida saying to himself, "I wonder what George McGovern would do?"

Given that John McCain is behind in the polls, it's entirely in his interest to have as many debates as possible with Obama.. The fact that he's foregoing a much needed face to face with Obama shows where McCain's true priorities are-- his country. Obama, the nobody from nowhere, obviously only cares about his political career.

COUNTRY FIRST.

Don't show up McCain--Good idea.

It isn't going to be fun to have YOUR ASSS handed to you in front of millions of Americans, already clutching pitchforks and torches.......

Don't show up McCain--Good idea.

It isn't going to be fun to have YOUR ASSS handed to you in front of millions of Americans, already clutching pitchforks and torches.......

Don't show up McCain--Good idea.

It isn't going to be fun to have YOUR ASSS handed to you in front of millions of Americans, already clutching pitchforks and torches.......

Don't show up McCain--Good idea.

It isn't going to be fun to have YOUR ASSS handed to you in front of millions of Americans, already clutching pitchforks and torches.......

Why McCain went before TV cameras instead to follow up his opponent call regarding this crisis and seek a joint statement? He definitely needs new and shine ideas from his young rival.

Obviously McCain trying to fillup the gap and playing the poll. We understand his game.

And we thought the rookie moose-hunting Governor of Alaska was a cheap stunt?
This act of cowardice takes the cake. Where has McCain been the last 12 months? Certainly not on the Senate floor as he has missed 80% of votes cast. What a buffoon.

"McCain aides acknowledged that McCain called Bush before he returned Obama's call, but they denied playing politics."

________________________________________

So the lame-duck partisan ally gets a heads-up, and the supposed partner in "bipartisan cooperation" gets a take-it-or-leave-it "offer" announced via national press conference?

John McGIMMICK.

"It isn't going to be fun to have YOUR ASSS handed to you in front of millions of Americans, already clutching pitchforks and torches......." Sounds like a lynching. Which candidate are you talking about?

Stop blogging? Hell no. P*ssing off the dull witted Demoroids in this comment section is an unqualified gas.

David123456: Senate Bill 190 was typical Republican smoke and mirrors - it would have shifted oversight AWAY from the Federal government to an independent entity, i.e. no oversight whatsoever. And it died in a Republican committee.

Posted by: justathought3 | September 24, 2008 5:55 PM

And exactly why should the government be in this business of regulating this? In '95, the Clinton administration esentially put a gun to the heads of the banks and lending institutions by enforcing the CRA (Community Reinvestment Act) which started this whole mess. President Bush and the Republicans (the conservatives, not the socialist wing of the party) tried to institute some sort of independent reform, but were shot down at every turn by the Dumbocrats.

Don't show up McCain--Good idea.

It isn't going to be fun to have YOUR ASSS handed to you in front of millions of Americans, already clutching pitchforks and torches.......

So long story short, McCain can see Obama's leaving in the dust, so McCain pulls another "please let me win this news cycle" stunt, hoping to change the subject. In the end, McCain is terrified of facing Senator Obama.

In 2005, McCain co-sponsored a bill to regulate Fanny/Freddie. Dems in Congress shot down the bill. Obama was Fannie's 3rd highest $$$ recipient:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aSKSoiNbnQY0

Posted by: David123456 | September 24, 2008 5:51 PM

He sponsored the bill but could not get it passed. Neither David nor the McCain camp realize they point out how ineffectual McCain is. Why keep repeating that? This is a reason for McCain to stay away from Washington, not go there.

MCGIMMICK AT IT AGAIN!!!

Don't we already have a president in Washington who is supposed to be leading?

Posted by: David123456 | September 24, 2008 5:56 PM

Unless you are not ready and are looking for a way to get a time out. Same old political tricks from John McCain. He's a muppet.

The voters will decide.

The candidate who dropped everything to go to Washington to try to keep everybody's savings from evaporating.

Or the ingénue who debated himself.

"And he needs a teleprompter in order to get his words out. When off the teleprompter, he is as dumb as a post. Dumber than Paris Hilton.

Posted by: LeeHInAlexandria | September 24, 2008 5:50 PM"
---
I've watched Obama speak off- teleprompter and though he is not as dynamic, his answers are well thought out on some very complicated topics so they take some explaining. He does not give sound bites on serious issues.

At least he is not making these useless grandstanding proclamations like : "we need action, now!"

If you think Obama is dumb as a post then try graduating from Harvard.

He has time for the event with Clinton tomorrow morning but not 90 minutes on Friday night?

This is certainly not leadership.

The first reaction from the media is that McCain's campaign "suspension" and withdrawal from Friday night's debate is a gambit of some sort, a Hail Mary pass to take the focus off McCain's faltering campaign and seize the initiative by appearing to be rushing to help with the financial crisis.

Maybe so, but it sure seems too risky in a race separated by 2 to 6 points, depending on whose polls you watch. And the idea that McCain can't find a six or seven hours to fly from Washington to Oxford, Mississippi, have a debate, and fly back on Friday night is just preposterous.

So, here's another possibility: McCain is losing it. As in someone found him talking to a coffee pot and said, "Holy crap! The meds aren't working! We have to do something before he spazzes out in front of a crowd!"

Think of it: This "suspension" of his campaign will take McCain out of the public eye for the better part of a week. Why might they need to do that? "Nervous exhaustion?" It's not out of the question, given the candidate's increasingly erratic behavior over the last couple of weeks.

There is something really weird about this one. I wonder if we'll find out.

The world economic crisis is not going to be solved by two guys this Friday from 9-10:30pm. And it doesn't look seem like the Senate vote is happening this week anyway.

The crash started weeks ago. McCain's camp have been happily airing attack ads and parading Sarah Palin around during this time, while banks folded and world markets tanked. Now, two days before the debate, they suddenly say they need extra time to deal with the crisis?

The issue is not whether this is a major crisis that deserves the candidates attention (of course it is) or if they should be in D.C. working on it (they should.) But with private jets, these things are not mutually exclusive with holding a debate.

Come on, people. If McCain was the one charging ahead in the polls, do you think he'd stop campaigning and fundraising now? This is stalling, grandstanding, or both.

http://joycelau1.spaces.live.com/

McCain has seriously lost it in the last week or so... he's vacillating wildly from "fundamentals are strong" to "EVERYBODY PANIC!!!" over this economic situation is really, really unsettling. One day "we're all Georgians" and he's threatening the Russians over what turns out to be a minor flap, the next he's panicked about the financial market situation... It's becoming obvious who's got the temperament to be President and who's just kind've scary and fear-inducing in his erratic, "chicken with it's head cut off" approach to crisis management.

Why should John McCain run back to Washington? Is he really the right guy to do something about this situation? Would cancelling the debate over his situation actually be helpful? Or would it send more anxiety into the market, thereby making the problem worse? (hint: It's the latter).

Seriously... the more and more I see of John McCain under pressure, the scarier the thought of him being President becomes.

"McCain aides acknowledged that McCain called Bush before he returned Obama's call."

Right, the call from 6 hours earlier. The call Mr. Obama made to reach out to Mr. McCain. The call that McCain feared to return until he had spoken to his soul-mate, George W. Bush. THAT call.

Note to John McCain--

It is simply time to take your toys, and go on home. Get out of the way, so that Mr. Obama can proceed with the business of LEADING.......

Thank you

REPUBLICANS

YOUR CANDIDATE'S CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SUSPENDED.

STOP BLOGGING.

"It's because McCain feels threatened by a young, intelligent, taller, black man, so he wants to avoid him by walking across the street." Intelligent? C+ average at Columbia. Did not graduate with honors in a school known for grade inflation. Young? 71 may be senior but 47 is no spring chicken? Black? He's a mulatto. Wants to avoid him by walking across the street? Maybe McCain wants to avoid the shower of spittle if the Puppet gets in his face.

McCan't!

"Next suggestion from McCain: suspend the election.

Posted by: rusty"

No, that will be called Martial Law and it will be announced before the election by one of the Bush royal family.

Unless you are filthy, covetous rich (preferably from pollution or war machines) and thus pay little taxes you are one of the hosts these bloodsuckers feed on.

You shouldn't need to know anymore than the fact that a Rothschild came out from the shadows to endorse Dishonest John....never mind she flubbed it by 1st referring to "those people out there" then corrected her call to arms to the "rednecks," the point is your ubermasters are worried.

Make no mistake, this is not yet a class war. It can be remedied by an HONEST election excersizing the REAL INTENT of the Middle/Working class, the ACTUAL taxpayers. If the American public is cheated again our forefathers will expect us correct it by any means necessary.

A TRUE leader leads no matter where they are on the geographical map. McCain is no more needed in Washington than you are.

Posted by: just another reader | September 24, 2008 5:51 PM

A TRUE leader leads and leads others in getting things done. A leader is not very effective when he is far away.

>>>>Obama now leads McCain by 52 percent to 43 percent.... no wonder McCain is afraid to show up to the debate.

That makes NO SENSE AT ALL. The guy trailing in the polls ALWAYS wants more debates than the guy leading. That's a fact. So it's entirely in McCain's interest to have AS MANY DEBATES AS POSSIBLE. So thanks for pointing out just how more presidential McCain behaves than Obama.

COUNTRY FIRST

McCain is a coward. Why not send Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin in his place?

rather than "smoke some pot" as Stan suggests, I think we should all sit and have some whatever Bernanke, Paulson, Bush and McCain are smoking. Clearly a far better grade of mind altering medication than we average people can get. And frankly we will need it... it may be the last time we smile in a long time.

David123456: Senate Bill 190 was typical Republican smoke and mirrors - it would have shifted oversight AWAY from the Federal government to an independent entity, i.e. no oversight whatsoever. And it died in a Republican committee.

Translation: McBush no longer has the cajones to debate Obama. Smart move.

Someone said McCain should get behind the "Obama plan" -- what plan is that exactly? "Change?"

Obama says nothing, has nothing to offer but one word slogans. Get behind nothing? You folks need to lay off the messiah worship.

Alex H. writes:
"hussein has NEVER enacted or crafted ANY meaningful legislation during his entire "career" as a senator."

I take it, then, that you're not familiar with the Lugar-Obama Bill? Or do you think that keeping nuclear weapons locked up and out of the hands of terrorists and rogue states is not 'meaningful'? If you're interested, of course, there's always google, but other places to start might be:

http://lugar.senate.gov/press/record.cfm?id=278019

or

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/07/15/1200047.aspx

If you're not interested... well, that's unfortunate.

Regards,
Beren

I'm still trying to decided if this was good move or not...I guess it depends on the results. It the plan is reached before Monday, John McCain wins if not Obama wins.

I also think there is a lot of bitterness in this forum. Some of talks sounds like Europeans not like Americans. If you don't like you life, change it. If you have been hit hard by life, change it. Isn't that the American dream, you make life what you desire.

Everyone stop whining!!!

"Next suggestion from McCain: suspend the election.

Posted by: rusty"

No, that will be called Martial Law and it will be announced before the election by one of the Bush royal family.

Unless you are filthy, covetous rich (preferably from pollution or war machines) and thus pay little taxes you are one of the hosts these bloodsuckers feed on.

You shouldn't need to know anymore than the fact that a Rothschild came out from the shadows to endorse Dishonest John....never mind she flubbed it by 1st referring to "those people out there" then corrected her call to arms to the "rednecks," the point is your ubermasters are worried.

Make no mistake, this is not yet a class war. It can be remedied by an HONEST election excersizing the REAL INTENT of the Middle/Working class, the ACTUAL taxpayers. If the American public is cheated again our forefathers will expect us correct it by any means necessary.

The voters will decide.

The candidate who dropped everything to go to Washington to try to keep everybody's from evaporating.

Or the ingénue who debated himself.

I'm relieved that McCain stepped up to suspend the campaign. It gives me hope that someone is putting the breaks on to do their part in making sure our economy is steered in the right direction. Either candidate would be foolish to not slow things down and do the work in D.C. that's at hand. He didn't say he wanted to cancel the debate...only postpone it. Why won't Obama concede to that? It would do him good to put the breaks on as well for the good of our nation.

This thing will be settled with or without McCain. McCain wants to give the impression that he is doing something. He simply is not on of the "experts" in this area. He would be much more valuable stating what a settlement should look like and get out of the get members of his party to move in that direction.

With insiders expecting this thing to be settled by 8/30/08 with more conviction today than yesterday, maybe McCain is looking to take credit for something he did not do.

In any case Obama has no reason to stop his campaign. This is noy 9/11.

I am concerned that McCain as president will see everything as a 9/11 and act unilaterally like he is now and try to stir up a frenzy.

Obama will be calm as he always is and after the drama is over the debate will be held and the distinction between McCain and Obama will be more apparent then in either of the two subsequent debates.

MCCAIN IS TRYING TO TAKE AWAY THE ONLY PROACTIVE ROLE THE EVERYDAY AMERICAN HAS IN SHAPING THIS COUNTRY. OUR ROLE IS TO ASK CANDIDATES DIRECT QUESTIONS AND VOTE BASED ON OUR OBSERVATIONS. DESPITE BEING FREE FOR SIX MONTHS, MCCAIN POSTPONED INTERVIEWING AND SELECTING PALIN UNTIL THE WEEK OF THE DNC CONVENTION. THEN, MCCAIN POSTPONED THE CONVENTION LEAVING NO TIME FOR BUSH TO SPEAK. THEN, MCCAIN POSTPONED THE MEDIA'S ACCESS TO PALIN SO THAT WE CAN'T SEE HOW SHE REACTS TO UNCOMFORTABLE QUESTIONS. NOW, HE IS POSTPONING A DEBATE WITH ONLY A MONTH AND HALF LEFT UNTIL THE ELECTION. POLITICAL STALL TACTICS DON'T HELP AMERICANS.

Three word for McSame:

Cut and run!

Mccain accepts Obama's plan to issue joint statement then claims it was his (Mccain's) idea! Then after realizing he is not ready to debate Obama on the economy after a one hour cram session in the library,he dares to pretend that he is delaying the debate for us!! please media sto saying it was Mccain's idea,Obama phoned Mccain six hours earlier to propose it.

MCCAIN=MCCHICKEN

** UPDATE - 5:52PM EST **
John McCain endorses Barack Obama for President.

eid to McCain: Don't Come Back to Capitol

September 24, 2008 5:14 PM

A Democrat tells ABC News that in a phone call late this afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., told Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that it would NOT be helpful for him to come back to Washington, DC, to work on the Wall Street bailout bill.

McCain this afternoon suspended his campaign and said he would skip the first presidential debate in order to return to Capitol Hill to work on the log jammed Bush administration legislation, which as of Wednesday afternoon was in peril.

When contacted, the McCain campaign did not have any comment.

---------------------------
Senator Reid has also told several Congressmen and Senators in private that he needs John McCains help to get this thing unjammed. Personally, I hope Senator McCain goes to Washington and sticks this bill up Senator Reid's a**.

After all, even Jimmy Carter was able to take time to debate Ronald Reagan during the Iran Hostage Crisis

He had the time because he didn't do anything about the hostage crisis...Just like obama hasn't done anything in the senate.

obama: I might as well run for president now - then I'll be on easy street the rest of my life. Accomplishing anything in the senate is too much work.

Obama now leads McCain by 52 percent to 43 percent.... no wonder McCain is afraid to show up to the debate. He's rather go to Washington Parties and play tailhook while this mess his buddy Phil Gramm, Dubya and Greenspan have created is festering.

What exactly will McCain be doing in Washington?

The bailout proposal is still in the committee and the last time I checked McCain is not a member of that committee and he has not been invited to make a presentation or make a speech.

So what is he really going to achieve by going to Washington? Can someone please answer the question?

This is a political stunt by the GOP; he want people to think that he cares very much about the economy. It is just like the GOP deceived the whole nation during their convention. Before the convention, they said because of Hurrican Ike.."This convention will not be partican" it will be done with the spirit of the lost that the hurrican will cost in mind. McCain flew to the locations of the storm (despite the fact that he did not do anything to help while there). Well, we all know how the convention turned out; it was full of partisan attacks.

Now McCain poll numbers are in the dumpster and he want to make another political move! The America people are caught up the GOP lies and it is not going to work this time around.

Straight Out of the Great One's Mouth:
"I have been in contact with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, if they need me, they know where they can call me."

Does that sound Presidential? I think not. A President should get back to Washington, get his hands dirty, and get a deal done.

Posted by: LeeHInAlexandria | September 24, 2008 5:29 PM
=================================

You know why Obama can say that? Becuase since this crisis happened he has given his party leadership and direction. He has been on top of the situation and has been communicating back and forth so that the democrats know what he expects and know what the goals are. Why do think that the request that are comming out of the meetings mirror Obama's statements?

A TRUE leader leads no matter where they are on the geographical map. McCain is no more needed in Washington than you are.

CRICKETS CHIRPING...

Odd that McCain's many admirers here cannot answer this simple question. Maybe they're unreachable like McCain was when Obama called him this morning?
_________________________________________

Q: Which of these scenarios represents bipartisanship, and which represents political opportunism?

(A) Crisis arises. Rivals discuss matter privately, agree to cooperate. Rivals then hold joint press conference to present their plan. Nation sees united front.

(B) Crisis arises. Rival M ignores highly unusual direct call from Rival O, strings him along for 6 hours, then sandbags everyone with a unilateral announcement reneging on a prior agreement, and publicly dares Rival O to follow suit or look bad. Bush White House piles on.

Which is which?

In 2005, McCain co-sponsored a bill to regulate Fanny/Freddie. Dems in Congress shot down the bill. Obama was Fannie's 3rd highest $$$ recipient:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aSKSoiNbnQY0

McCain is going back to Washington to whip up GOP support for Bush's plan. (Even the GOP doesn't want it).

He will show up at the debate because the debate commission has indicated the debate will go on. "I would really rather not be here as the country is in crisis, the the commision would not push back the debate - till December 1!"

Maybe we can get a photo op of Bush hugging McSame again.

If only JaxMax could write the speeches.....

"Obama is losing."

"We are winning in key states."

"Therefore, I will debate Obama only if his poll numbers improve."

"Otherwise, whats in it for me?"

"In the meantime I will actually serve the Country while Obama sniffs condescendingly at meaningless campaign stops."

>>>>Obama, on the other hand, is a nobody who came out of nowhere whose only real interest has been running for the next political office.

Posted by: David123456 | September 24, 2008 5:45 PM

Wow - your disdain for the nobodies actually achieving something is astounding. I guess we're not all as fortunate as you to come up with a silver spoon in our mouth

"Once again, Obama is the grown-up. He can focus on a crisis AND explain where he stands" Just not in real time. He is a hologram and CPU running Word Cloud. When the news cycle changes new talking points need to be uploaded by the Axelrod Master of Puppets.

Posted by: greg3 | September 24, 2008 5:48 PM

And he needs a teleprompter in order to get his words out. When off the teleprompter, he is as dumb as a post. Dumber than Paris Hilton.

This decision should finish McCain's credibility among the undecided. He is completely unstable; he reminds me of the captain in "Mr Rogers". Go crazy and watch your shipmates go down with you!
HAHAHAHA!

McCain is very close to being INSANE.

It's because McCain feels threatened by a young, intelligent, taller, black man, so he wants to avoid him by walking across the street.

Reid to McCain: Don't Come Back to Capitol

September 24, 2008 5:14 PM

A Democrat tells ABC News that in a phone call late this afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., told Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that it would NOT be helpful for him to come back to Washington, DC, to work on the Wall Street bailout bill.

McCain this afternoon suspended his campaign and said he would skip the first presidential debate in order to return to Capitol Hill to work on the log jammed Bush administration legislation, which as of Wednesday afternoon was in peril.

When contacted, the McCain campaign did not have any comment.

------

September 20, 2008

Gallup Daily: Obama 50%, McCain 44%

Obama maintains lead

I think the multitasking comments are directly on point concerning McCain's ability to lead. After all, even Jimmy Carter was able to take time to debate Ronald Reagan during the Iran Hostage Crisis. If the President can debate during a crisis, what does it tell us when a mere candidate for the job runs from debating?

Posted by: WEO | September 24, 2008 5:46 PM

How exactly does Jimmy Carter, who was one of the worst Presidents in modern times fit into this? This is exactly why you don't focus yourself on too many things at once. Carter was a joke and so is Barackas Obamas.

Really? The person who 10 days ago said the fundamentals of our economy are strong is NOW saying that the crisis is so huge that he has to stop his campaign to focus on the economy. The person who said AIG shouldn't be bailed out and then a day later said it should? Who said his campaign manager didn't have ties to Freddie Mac when that was obviously NOT true?

I don't see this as putting country first. I see it as a desparate political move to try to stop the bleeding from the McCain camp and to get out of a debate where he knows he is going to get hammered.

McCain has waived the white flag, now he should get behind the Obama plan for the sake of America.

Posted by: greg3-- "John McCain is obviously a serious adult, who loves his country. And he is US senator who, out of a deep sense of responsibility, is going back to DC to do the job he receives a monthly check to do." Oh god, do you actually believe this sanctimonious horse sh*t? Had Obama asked to postpone the debate, you would have argued that he is running scared, unprepared, etc. etc. Your spin just gets more and more incredible.

In 2005, McCain co-sponsored a bill to regulate Fanny/Freddie. Dems in Congress shot down the bill. Obama was Fannie's 3rd highest $$$ recipient:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aSKSoiNbnQY0

"Once again, Obama is the grown-up. He can focus on a crisis AND explain where he stands" Just not in real time. He is a hologram and CPU running Word Cloud. When the news cycle changes new talking points need to be uploaded by the Axelrod Master of Puppets.

You know these tactics get old real fast. I saw an obvious McCain supporter say he's doing this for the good of the country. PLEASE THAT'S BS. He isn't delaying the debate for the good of the country, he's delaying it for the good of his campaign. Last time I checked that's not country first. You know what's funny to, he claimed the reason for the smear campaigns were Obama wouldn't debate him. Now there's a debate and he wants to cancel. I heard Obama rejected McCain's plea. Good! Let Bush handle this crisis and let's see how these 2 react to the economy.

JaxMax: "Obama is past tense and he knows it...note that no one in Washington seeks any of his input in the crisis."

On what planet does this statement make sense? Is this the kind of thinking that consuming only right wing news sources creates?

Good lord, Obama is beating McCain by 25 points on the latest economy handling poll. Economists say that Obama has the correct read on the situation. If he went to DC Republicans would accuse him of pretending to be the president (already happened once this season so it's not a stretch of imagination); he's not going, so Republicans say he's negligent. Republicans sure do say an awful lot. Unfortunately they also do some of it. The people will have something to say about that in November.

As president, either candidate will have to deal with multiple issues at one time (they will not have the luxury of stopping one item to fix another).

This shows that a serious candidate with great multi-tasking skills will be needed to fix this fine mess over the next term.

I agree that Congress and the Bush administration will need to handle this issue while the 2 candidates continue with their campaigns.

(Besides, they should already know what the people want out of this deal)

COUNTRY FIRST.

I think the multitasking comments are directly on point concerning McCain's ability to lead. After all, even Jimmy Carter was able to take time to debate Ronald Reagan during the Iran Hostage Crisis. If the President can debate during a crisis, what does it tell us when a mere candidate for the job runs from debating?

Is Mississippi still a red state. I don't think so. Getting stood up is harsh. Like about a million dollars and a lot of time. What happened to Jet air travel. If Obama handles this right, swear him in now, unless President Bush decides to run for a third term. Shhhhh! Don't tell him yet. You only get 3 strikes in baseball.

Rick

What a slap in the face of the American people by McLame. We need to see these debates to help us decide who can get us out of the mess that Bush and his band of idiots have gotten us into. It's just as important if not more for Americans to get the information they need to pick a new and effective leader. McCain's fearful retreat from the debates under the guise of going back to DC to help, will do nothing but set the real work being done in Washington back weeks. What a pathetic coward he really is.

Hi, I'm BARACK, I'm running for President, Call me if you need me...........

Maybe John Mcass has little to say

greg3,

mccain was not even born in the united states, he was born in the panama canal. obama was born in hawai'i, part of the united states.

"Posted by: James Carroll | September 24, 2008 5:33 PM

John McCain has bigger cojones than you could ever dream of having."

Yeah - too bad they're attached to the side of his face.

jt posts an article written by a McCain advisor under the guise of "fact".

This is typical behavior--feed the American people unadulterated propoganda and pretend it is truth. Hide from the scrutiny of the American people and take no questions.

Gorbachev could have taught McCain a thing or two about transparency. John--this is AMERICA!

Imagine if it was Obama who suspended his campaign and called for a mulligan on the debate. Rush Limbaugh, Hannity and the rest of the Nazis would get a hernia calling for a dismissal. Bizarre. WTF is going on with McCain...hare-brained gimmick, this is very unpresidential.

>>>David123456 - So the other 109 votes he missed - what about those? Were those votes not important?

This is the most important vote in modern times. Makes sense McCain would feel the need to be there. Obama, on the other hand, is a nobody who came out of nowhere whose only real interest has been running for the next political office.

Unbelievable! McCain should take my moniker. He really deserves it!

Again John McCain shows that he puts country first, while Obama puts his own political career ahead of the entire country. Not a big surprise

This is such a brilliant move by McCain--he has totally flustered Obama.

I bet Gov. Palin came up with the idea....

Ok Matt - let's go to an article from the huffington post - there's fair, objective journalism...Why don't you go to the obama website - I'm sure the BS is even deeper there....What a clown...go smoke some pot and hug a tree.

Charice:

Maybe you are the one who needs to revisit your high school civics textbook.
- The bailout bill (no matter what you think of it) could come up for a vote within the next day or so.

- Senators have to be on the floor of the Senate to vote. They can't vote from their 'cell phone'.

John McCain felt it was important enough to go back to Washington to, you know, do his job as Senator. Obama would rather just keep publishing half-baked "plans" and talking, instead of doing.

Once again, McCain makes Obama look like the career-campaigner-but-never-actually-do-anything politician that he is.

"I'm not particularly focused on Senator McCain. I really don't care," he said. "I guess if I wanted expertise there [from the GOP ticket], I'd ask Sarah Palin."

Barney Frank has always been a funny guy...

Why even let the people who created the problem try and fix it?

There is NOTHING that says we must do something this week.

That is the administration talking -- the same administration that is calling the shots on McCain's campaign.

Desperation - especially given today's emergence of three sworn affidavits about a Palin affair.

Posted by: Joe | September 24, 2008 5:40 PM

The sooner we do something, the less of a chance the world markets start to suffer. Know the facts before you speak you moron. You think this is a crisi? Wait till they HAVE to bail out Social Security and Medicare, two items they have trashed even worse.

So, John McCain wants to inject presidential politics into Congress' attempt to come to a bi-partisan agreement on a bailout of the economy. Now that's a stellar idea, don't you think.

hussein will never agree to stop campaigning and work on the economic crisis. The reasons are obvious:

1. hussein has NEVER enacted or crafted ANY meaningful legislation during his entire "career" as a senator. He isn't likely to start now. (That's called: "gross inexperience".)
2. hussein is an artificial creation of the loony-left liberal media with no more substance or depth than a Daffy Duck cartoon. Whenever there are no mirrors and no cameras, hussein vanishes. His existence therefore REQUIRES that he remain in front of a camera campaigning. (That's called: "chronic narcissism".)

It is best to let competent leaders work on solving this crisis. Let "sweetie" hussein do the only thing he knows how to do: promote himself.

McScared. He sure sounds scared every time he speaks.

McCain needs this time out to figure out how the Economy works and how exactly he's voted on it over the last 26 years.

Well. Just some facts:

To those crowing about Obama voting 'present':

"Of all Senators, John McCain has been the most absent. There have been 643 votes taken in the current Senate session: McCain has missed 412 of them.

"McCain has not voted in the Senate since April 8th. Since March, he has missed 109 of the last 110 votes."

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/senate/vote-missers/

And to those trying to claim that it was the Dems who were in the pocket of Fannie and Freddie:

"John McCain's campaign manager and Freddie Mac had what amounts to a secret half a million dollar lay-a-way plan. For almost three years and as late as last month, Freddie Mac made secret, monthly payments of $15,000 to Rick Davis’s firm for a no-show job, apparently in exchange for providing special access to a future McCain White House."

http://www.campaignmoney.org/pressroom/2008/09/24/davis-freddie-mac

Recurrences of malignant melanoma, a savage tumor that can and does reappear after periods of hope-filled absence, are too common and serious to be cloaked for political purposes. - Theodore M. Cole, MD

McCain to the rescue.Even tho he has admited he knows very little about economics he's off to save the country.Who is it superman?,The green lantern?No it's super economist McCain.What profiling.The fact of the matter is the federal reserve bank is behind this just like they were behind the great depression and neither Obama or McCain are going to do anything about it.If this bailout does not collapse the dollar completly the only way we can save this country is by voting third party as they have not as yet been corrupted by the fed and it's bevy of corporations.

Where has McCane been the last 26 years on this issue? Suddenly, he wants to go to Washington to get something done. Oh, and it just so happens it was on the day a bunch of bad polls for him came out.
What a coincidence!

In 2005, McCain co-sponsored a bill to regulate Fanny/Freddie. Dems in Congress shot down the bill. Obama was Fannie's 3rd highest $$$ recipient:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aSKSoiNbnQY0

Oh, this is rich. Again, McCain is trying to avoid deadling head on with his campaign's positions. Sarah Palin was good for a couple of weeks' worth of distraction. Now, he's concerned about the economy. NOW he's concerned? For the next debate, will McCain's mother write him a "my son is sick" excuse note to get him out of that one?

John McStunt has a brain attack. I think he is working on the theory that if they are stupid enough to elect Bush twice they are stupid enough to fall for my stunts. One thing is clear John McStunt thinks Americans are stupid

David123456 - So the other 109 votes he missed - what about those? Were those votes not important?

John McCain has been a United States senator for going on 30 years. It makes sense he'd want to be back in the Senate for the most important debate and vote in modern times. Barack Obama is a politician running for president. Makes sense he wouldn't.

Posted by: David123456 | September 24, 2008 5:40 PM

Please, please, PLEASE let Obama Lite try to pull some narcissistic stunt by showing up at his debate Friday night.

The article quotes a desperate Obama campaign programmer:

"Obama campaign spokesman Robert Gibbs was more direct. The scene at the debate site in Oxford, Miss. Friday night, he said, would consist of "a stage, an audience, a moderator, and at least one presidential candidate."

RESPONSE: This hysterical blabbertells you the REAL story of that Obama's internal polls are documenting his defeat.

Ironically, if Obama had tried this obvious stunt (postponing the debate), the Repugs would be crawling all over it, gleefully shrieking that he wasn't prepared, couldn't handle the pressure, blah, blah, blah. Country first my a**, McBush is hoping to dull the momentum Obama has gained and will continue to gain, especially after Bush speaks tonight (a little reminder to the folks of this country just which Party led us down this merry path).

David123456 - So the other 109 votes he missed - what about those? Were those votes not important?

John McCain has been a United States senator for going on 30 years. It makes sense he'd want to be back in the Senate for the most important debate and vote in modern times. Barack Obama is a politician running for president. Makes sense he wouldn't.

Posted by: David123456 | September 24, 2008 5:40 PM

What a joke! Leaders are supposed to be able to handle many things at once. McCain could never be President, he can't handle pressure.

Posted by: Jacob | September 24, 2008 5:38 PM

Handling many things at once is called A.D.D. Leaders are ones who focus on a singular issue when something is in crisis to see it through. All Obama can say is "if they need me, they know where they can call me."

The wheels are coming off this bus...fast.

Think: Ross Perot.

John McCain is obviously a serious adult, who loves his country. And he is US senator who, out of a deep sense of responsibility, is going back to DC to do the job he receives a monthly check to do. To date I haven't seen any evidence that David Axelrod Puppet is even a real US citizen -- or sentient, for that matter. I do believe he is a life form of some sort.

John McCain has been a United States senator for going on 30 years. It makes sense he'd want to be back in the Senate for the most important debate and vote in modern times. Barack Obama is a politician running for president. Makes sense he wouldn't.

Next suggestion from McCain: suspend the election.

Regardless of what McCain thinks, the issues are too important to not discuss them. Most people will see through this political gimmick as an attempt to improve McCain's image and avoid discussing the issues. I hope McCain does take his ads off...Obama should run this in all of the swing states (and the list is growing:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/24/john-mccains-keating-five_n_128807.html

McCain was part of the problem in the 1980s and he is part of the problem today. He doesn't want to discuss that on Friday and he is trying to buy time.

It is a shame that the Obama supporters are so Brainwahed with hate that they would trash and dishonor John Mccain after all the sacrafices he has given this country...I guess that is a reflection of ignorance and gullibility in this country...

Why even let the people who created the problem try and fix it?

There is NOTHING that says we must do something this week.

That is the administration talking -- the same administration that is calling the shots on McCain's campaign.

Desperation - especially given today's emergence of three sworn affidavits about a Palin affair.

Apparantly, Obama call McCain first re: a joint statement. McCain jumped the gun and issued his own statement. I don't want this guy as my president. He is the ultimate shrew.

RUN JOHNNY, RUNNNNN!!!!!

....Because GETTING YOUR A$$ handed to you in front of a live address to the nation ain't no picnic.....

I believe Jack Cafferty sums it up well--

IS JOHN MCCAIN ANOTHER GEORGE W. BUSH??!!!!

....Sen. John McCain takes weekends off and limits his campaign events to one a day. He made an exception for the religious forum on Saturday at Saddleback Church in Southern California....

It occurs to me that John McCain is as intellectually shallow as our current president. When asked what his Christian faith means to him, his answer was a one-liner. "It means I'm saved and forgiven." Great scholars have wrestled with the meaning of faith for centuries. McCain then retold a story we've all heard a hundred times about a guard in Vietnam drawing a cross in the sand.

Asked about his greatest moral failure, he cited his first marriage, which ended in divorce. While saying it was his greatest moral failing, he offered nothing in the way of explanation. Why not?

Throughout the evening, McCain chose to recite portions of his stump speech as answers to the questions he was being asked. Why? He has lived 71 years. Surely he has some thoughts on what it all means that go beyond canned answers culled from the same speech he delivers every day.

He was asked "if evil exists." His response was to repeat for the umpteenth time that Osama bin Laden is a bad man and he will pursue him to "the gates of h***." That was it....

One after another, McCain's answers were shallow, simplistic, and trite. He showed the same intellectual curiosity that George Bush has -- virtually none.

Where are John McCain's writings exploring the vexing moral issues of our time? Where are his position papers setting forth his careful consideration of foreign policy, the welfare state, education, America's moral responsibility in the world, etc., etc., etc.?

John McCain graduated 894th in a class of 899 at the Naval Academy at Annapolis. His father and grandfather were four star admirals in the Navy. Some have suggested that might have played a role in McCain being admitted. His academic record was awful. And it shows over and over again whenever McCain is called upon to think on his feet.

He no longer allows reporters unfettered access to him aboard the "Straight Talk Express" for a reason. He simply makes too many mistakes. Unless he's reciting talking points or reading from notes or a TelePrompTer, John McCain is lost. He can drop bon mots at a bowling alley or diner -- short glib responses that get a chuckle, but beyond that McCain gets in over his head very quickly.

I am sick and tired of the president of the United States embarrassing me....

George Bush's record as a student, military man, businessman and leader of the free world is one of constant failure. And the part that troubles me most is he seems content with himself.

He will leave office with the country $10 trillion in debt, fighting two wars, our international reputation in shambles, our government cloaked in secrecy and suspicion that his entire presidency has been a litany of broken laws and promises, our citizens' faith in our own country ripped to shreds. Yet Bush goes bumbling along, grinning and spewing moronic one-liners, as though nobody understands what a colossal failure he has been.

I fear to the depth of my being that John McCain is just like him.

David123456, ah, the good old "McCain sponsored legislation" trick. Do you recall who controlled the Senate and the House back then? Hint, it wasn't Obama's party. If the GOP wanted this to go through, it would have done so.

Posted by: LPLT | September 24, 2008 5:36 PM

Let's get the facts straight. The Congress from 2000-2006 was controlled by the socialists in the Republican party who infested us from switching over from the Democratic side. Much like there were many conservtives who switched parties (Jim Webb) in 2006 to win the election in 2006.

The true Republicans haven't been in power since 1994 and that didn't last long.

McChicken. Cluck. Cluck. Cluck

Suspend his campaign? Isn't that what Hillary did when she knew she lost?
Bend over and kiss it good bye McCodger !

Thank you LPLT.
I hope all the McCain supporters are aware of that.
This way they can stop spouting about how badly McCain needs to get back to Washington and how noble it was of him to suspend his campaign.
There were 109 other things that were voted on since he last sat in the senate (including the GI Bill) but I guess he only feels responsible enough to get back to DC when it's politically expedient.

I'm not belittling this crisis, it's got be quite scared/enraged - I just find all McCain's supporters reactions ironic.

Why didn't anyone demand that he uphold his responsibilities sooner?

What a joke! Leaders are supposed to be able to handle many things at once. McCain could never be President, he can't handle pressure.

Obama could never run this country!

Once again, Obama is the grown-up. He can focus on a crisis AND explain where he stands--and to the people he will represent, imagine that. When you're president, you don't get to call "time out."

It's going to be nice to have a grown-up in the White House again.

"McCain aides acknowledged that McCain called Bush before he returned Obama's call, but they denied playing politics."

Hmmm.

Why Do the Lobbyists Love Obama?
excerpt -

Let’s start with the top ten Lobbying firms in Washington. You can find them here. They are:

Patton Bogg
Cassidy & Associates
Akin Gump
Van Scoyoc
Williams and Jensen
Hogan & Hartson
Ernst & Young
Barbour, Griffith and Rogers
Quinn Gillepsie & Associates
PMA Group

The data covers activity since 1990. John McCain has been in the Senate for the last 18 years and he received a total of $221,754 from these firms and their employees. That works out to an average of $12,319.67 per year. Barack Obama has only been around for less than four years but he has already received more money than John McCain –$259,022.00.

CONTINUED -
http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/09/24/why-do-the-lobbyists-love-obama

McCain could never run this country.

This is a brilliant move by McCain.

The Dems do protest too much.

If the Wash Po poll today is accurate why would the Dems even care if McCain cancelled the debate?

Obama is past tense and he knows it...note that no one in Washington seeks any of his input in the crisis.

Strange- how badly Obama wants a debate now.

When he was invited to debate McCain a couple of months ago, he was too narcissistic to share his spot light with anyone...even now --he is like a spoiled kid who wants things his way...he acts like he is "entitled." He'd rather win an election than to go to his "job" in the Senate--but don't worry, he'd probably vote "present" anyway.

--Debate his teleprompter-- I hear it once plagiarised a speech by Deval Patrick--and gave no credit. It was the teleprompters fault of course.

David123456, ah, the good old "McCain sponsored legislation" trick. Do you recall who controlled the Senate and the House back then? Hint, it wasn't Obama's party. If the GOP wanted this to go through, it would have done so.

Looks like McCain is good and scared of what he will have to answer to at Friday's debate. BTW, since when was it a good idea to rush into one of the Bush administration's proposals?

Posted by: James Carroll | September 24, 2008 5:33 PM

John McCain has bigger cojones than you could ever dream of having.

If this is McCain's equivalent of financial 9/11 such that he wants to cancel the debate, then maybe the NFL shouldn't play any games this weekend either, just like after 9/11. What a joke!!

Come on, wingers, just admit it was a cynical desperation move, already. Your spines will suffer less if they aren't bent into pretzels trying to defend McCain's stunt as country-first altruism.
____________________________________

Q: Which of these scenarios represents bipartisanship, and which represents political opportunism?

(A) Crisis arises. Rivals discuss matter privately, agree to cooperate. Rivals then hold joint press conference to present their plan. Nation sees united front.

(B) Crisis arises. Rival M ignores highly unusual direct call from Rival O, strings him along for 6 hours, then sandbags everyone with a unilateral announcement reneging on a prior agreement, and publicly dares Rival O to follow suit or look bad. Bush White House piles on.

Which is which?

The biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression and still all Barack can think about is himself. Has he ever done anything that hasn't benefited himself or his ambitions. The education board he served on came across the same problems that countless studies and reports have encountered - Obama came up with no answers. His platitudes are wearing thin.

Posted by: David | September 24, 2008 5:32 PM

This is peanuts compared to what is coming (Social Security and Medicare). This is one trillion dollars (of your money and mine) that they are trying to steal from you. The overall fundamentals of the economy is strong. The US economy is around 14 trillion dollars overall.

HELLO, all you repubs who are saying McCain is doing a noble thing to solve this crisis. There is nothing McCain or Obama can do but influence the process. Go back to your GOVT 101 class. This legislation has to make it out of Committee first. Someone please tell McCain there are inventions such as cell phones, commuters, text msgs, etc. You no longer need to BE somewhere to BE somewhere.

jcro, I am certainly not a McCain supporter but the last time he actually voted on something in the Senate was on April 8th. He has missed 109 of the last 110 votes and nearly two-thirds of the Senate votes during the past two years, far more than anyone else.

In 2005, McCain co-sponsored a bill to regulate Fanny/Freddie. Dems in Congress shot down the bill. Obama was Fannie's 3rd highest $$$ recipient:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aSKSoiNbnQY0

Looks like McCain is good and scared of what he will have to answer to at Friday's debate. BTW, since when was it a good idea to rush into one of the Bush administration's proposals?

We are witnessing McCain at his best, it is a beautiful sight, at this level he is unbeatable.

I find the complaints by Obama's rapid eruption team instructive-....blah blah blah

Bottom line: only McCain will be taken seriously when he returns to the Senate to work on a solution. Obama has barely figured out where the men's room is.

Posted by: Rick50 | September 24, 2008 5:29 PM

I find your entire existence non-existent. You pompous little sh*t.

So McCain is headed back to DC to show his support of the bailout. Since he helped cause it, I guess it's only fair he would try to help fix it. Although, his way is billions to lobbyists and campaign contributors.

Duh. Political Theater 101. McCain is trying to change the subject from his sagging poll numbers and his lie about Rick Davis. How unpresidential. Now what does he do after Obama's very eloquent response? Go to the debate with his tail between his legs. His instincts are just awful.

McCain wants to postpone his debates so long that there will be no time for vp debates.

McCain don't want to go before the media just like Palin refuses to answer questions. They desire to delay talking to the real American People until after the election. They don't want us to see their real face and their lake of ability to run this country.------------Cowards

OBAMA STUCK ON STUPID--DOESN'T UNDERSTAND DUTY OF A SENATOR

Obama Lite is outraged that Senator McCain would actually participate in the crisis solution.

Obama Lite--there is not "there" there

The thing is... McCain is now the de facto head of
the repug party... just like Obama is of the demo
party. They lead their Party, and what they say goes.
McCain could, as in COULD HAVE.... developed a
plan based on the next 2 day's of digesting the
President's speech and the ability of Congress
(getting a lot of mail) to pass the Bailout. Because...
BECAUSE, the entire Nation would be watching the
debate! This was his chance to be Presidential... to
pick up this biggest of all balls ever conceived and he
PASSED!!!! He has nothing. He is holding the ball
(football term). How anyone, any true American could
vote for the phony "War Hero" defies logic. he is a
coward and a groveling politico. Something Bush
would do.

What this really shows is that McCain is too old and decrepit to deal with more than one issue at a time. The presidency requires a grasp of multiple and continually changing issues.. McCain is obviously not up to a job as demanding as the presidency. Obama obviously is.

Posted by: NerkTwin | September 24, 2008 5:28 PM

No you moron, this shows leadership. What did the 'great one' say? "If they need me, they know where they can call me." At least John McCain is going to Washington to try and get something done.

The biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression and still all Barack can think about is himself. Has he ever done anything that hasn't benefited himself or his ambitions. The education board he served on came across the same problems that countless studies and reports have encountered - Obama came up with no answers. His platitudes are wearing thin.

America needs to get behind the Obama plan.

Why not delay the campaign to help out with hurricane cleanup?
Posted by: RG | September 24, 2008 5:30 PM

Here, here!!!

DEWEY BEACH, Delaware (CNN) -- Although Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden routinely mocks his Republican counterpart, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, for her onetime support of the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere," Biden and his running mate voted to keep the project alive twice.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden campaigns in Washington on Tuesday.

Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden campaigns in Washington on Tuesday.

Both Biden and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama voted to kill a Senate amendment that would have diverted federal funding for the bridge to repair a Louisiana span badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina, Senate records show.

And both voted for the final transportation bill that included the $223 million earmark for the Alaska project.

An amendment offered by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma, would have stripped the money appropriated to connect the Alaskan coastal city of Ketchikan to its airport on sparsely populated Gravina Island and diverted the money to Louisiana.

But Biden andObama and 80 of their colleagues rejected the measure, an amendment to a massive 2005 transportation bill that funded thousands of projects across the country. Video Watch how Biden has blasted Palin »

"That is probably the most disturbing element of this and the campaigning on the Bridge to Nowhere," said Bill Allison of the Sunlight Foundation, a taxpayer watchdog group. "Because, yes, they had a chance to vote specifically against the Bridge to Nowhere in Alaska to redirect the money to people, to bridges and infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Katrina going in to New Orleans, and they chose not to."

Palin, whom McCain chose as his running mate in August, has regaled crowds at the Republican convention and on the campaign trail with her declaration of "Thanks, but no thanks" for the bridge. But her conversion came after she became Alaska's governor in 2006 and after the bridge became a national symbol of congressional waste.

The record shows that she supported the bridge as a gubernatorial candidate, and Democrats have seized on the flip-flop, perhaps no one with as much relish as Biden.

"I got also a bridge I got to sell you here, and guess what, it's in Alaska, and it goes nowhere," Biden mocked Palin on the campaign trail last week in Maumee, Ohio. And in Canton, Ohio, he tied it to McCain.

"If you look at it John McCain's answers for the economy, and we're in such desperate shape, is the ultimate bridge to nowhere. It's nowhere," Biden said. "It takes you nowhere."

But while the applause line appealed to the Democratic faithful, it could come back to bite the Delaware senator.

This year, Delaware has requested 116 congressional earmarks through Biden, its longtime senator, at a cost to taxpayers of $342 million. In an appearance on CNN's "American Morning" with anchor John Roberts, Biden said that he had been open about those requests and that they all can be justified.

"Everyone has seen them, and we have no Lawrence Welk Museums and have no bridges to nowhere in Delaware. It's all straight up," Biden said.

Among his requests: $1 million for renovation of an opera house in Wilmington, another million for the construction of a children's museum and thousands of dollars for a water park renovation in Lewes.

"I think opera patrons generally can afford to -- you can raise money for an opera house; you can refurbish things a lot of different ways," Allison said.

"To have federal taxpaying dollars -- which is coming from people all over the country; low-income, middle-income people, as well as the wealthy -- to go to pay for the renovation of something that is really a luxury for Wilmington ... There are far more vital projects that anyone could think of that needs money. You got health care. You got education. You got all other types of things. Instead, we are redirecting money to refurbish an opera house in Wilmington or to build a children's museum."

And Biden's request includes a bridge that even the head of the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce says is not crucial at this juncture.

The Indian River Inlet Bridge is a vital link between two popular beachfront towns: Dewey and Bethany. Without it, the estimated 30,000 summer visitors would have to travel an additional 35 minutes to get to the towns.

"We need a new bridge, and we are fortunate to be at a place where it is finally going to happen," said Carol Everhart, the chief of the Chamber of Commerce.

The existing bridge has some erosion problems, and if it ever collapsed, Everhart said, it would cause an economic disaster in the community. But it's safe for now.

"The bridge, as it is, is perfectly safe," she said.

Still, Biden asked for $13 million to help shore up the existing bridge and begin construction of a new one. And that's what troubles the Sunlight Foundation's Allison.

"This bridge is not in any danger of collapse, and essentially what Sen. Biden is doing is saying, 'My state bridge gets the priority dollar even though it is not a priority project,' " Allison said.

He said the Department of Transportation, rather than U.S. senators, should be deciding which bridges get priority funding in the country. That way, the bridges in the U.S. that need immediate repair would be first in line for the dollars needed to do the work.

As he embarked on his presidential bid in 2007, Obama said he would no longer ask for earmark projects. McCain, who has been a longtime critic of the process, does not seek any for his home state of Arizona.
advertisement

CNN asked Biden's campaign whether it could ask the senator about his earmark requests and his votes on the Bridge to Nowhere.

In response, a staffer e-mailed, "You've interviewed Gov. Palin re: her completely made up position on the Bridge to Nowhere right?"

Why not delay the campaign to help out with hurricane cleanup?

In 2005, McCain co-sponsored a bill to regulate Fanny/Freddie. Dems in Congress shot down the bill. Obama was Fannie's 3rd highest $$$ recipient:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aSKSoiNbnQY0

Not a good move on McCain's part. People will see through this immediately.

I find the complaints by Obama's rapid eruption team instructive-but not in the way they intend. Let's see: "McCain should have said this Monday/or Friday/ or any day but today." Of course, it couldn't be that McCain could see the deal falling apart in the last 24 hours. Could it? He's only been in the Senate since 1982-he couldn't actually know how to read the tea leaves could he?

"McCain is a coward." Not worthy of a response except for amazement at the nerve of people who think text-messaging is the
same thing as real combat.

Note the Obamaniacs recycling of the same old shrieks without any sense of engagement with their opponents. Could it be that they don't CARE about telling the truth? Naw!

Bottom line: only McCain will be taken seriously when he returns to the Senate to work on a solution. Obama has barely figured out where the men's room is.

I am John McCain and I approve this message.
All of you who are against me are rather disrespectful. You should understand that I am 72 years old and I have lost my agility. Actually, if you have been watching you'll notice that I often forget stuff. I realized that Obama was pumelling me in the polls, so I thought of a quick gimmick to get him off my back. If you were in my shoes what would you do? I am sensible enough to fight and run away, so I can fight another day.

I agree, let Biden and Palin debate. Wouldn't it be fun to hear two candidates talk about the issues without weeks of preparation?

Straight Out of the Great One's Mouth:
"I have been in contact with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, if they need me, they know where they can call me."

Does that sound Presidential? I think not. A President should get back to Washington, get his hands dirty, and get a deal done.

McCain is toeing the part line. The GOP wants to make the most out of this crisis to push through legislation with a minimal amount of review.

Isn't this how we got into the Iraq war?

Posted by: usa3
"Barney Frank said..."

---------------------------

Did he have another man's tool in his mouth when he was talking?

Posted by: Anonymous | September 24, 2008 4:36 PM

//

S'matter, doesn't he return your phone calls anymore?

What this really shows is that McCain is too old and decrepit to deal with more than one issue at a time. The presidency requires a grasp of multiple and continually changing issues.. McCain is obviously not up to a job as demanding as the presidency. Obama obviously is.

Everyone has a relative who, because of their advancing age, eventually becomes a cliche of their former selves. This is certainly what has become of John McCain. Sadly, there are no elder statesmen in this country with the public authority necessary to quietly get him to shut up and be quiet. Instead of suspending the campaigns let's move the election day up a month and get this over with.

Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld to stand in for Obama and McCain Friday Night as part of the new Microsoft advertising campaign debate.

Sarah Palin to moderate.

McCain is willing to tamper with this delicate process for his own political gain. He knows full well that his presence and/or Obama's presence will turn this thing into a circus. He cares about nothing but winning, and he can't even do that.

JaxMax,

I love the fact that you can't answer anybody's questions of you.

NEWSFLASH - YOUR CANDIDATE IS RUNNING FROM THE DEBATE, NOT THE OTHER GUY.

Are you sure you are not Tucker Bounds?

Barney Frank is hilarious. The longest hail mary in the history of football or Mary's! LOL! This is such a punk move by McCain. He saw the latest polls and crapped his pants. He can't stand up to Obama and the press and explain his long term policy of being pro deregulation when it comes to financial institutions. He would look even worse trying to defend it before a live audience. Punk McNasty!!

John McCoward

I would love for one of the McCain supporters here to PLEASE tell me the LAST TIME McSame voted on ANYTHING in the senate?
I'd like a date, the bill and how McCain voted.

To Justine Smith: How can you go from being a Hillary supporter to a McCain supporter when they (and especially Palin) stand completely opposite on almost all issues? Please explain.

In 2005, McCain co-sponsored a bill to regulate Fanny/Freddie. Dems in Congress shot down the bill. Obama was Fannie's 3rd highest $$$ recipient:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aSKSoiNbnQY0

OK, then! lets just cancel the elections until we get the economy back in working order! I vote to have the elections held next year when McCain and Palin feel more UP to the JOB of Multitasking!

I read this as McCain is withdrawing from the Presidential race.

Obama stated that this financial crisis, the biggest thing since the great depression.

However when it comes to manning up, and solving it, he leaves it up to someone else.

Obama, is a Rodent.

Wow...just reading comments here tells me what McCain followers are willing to believe, accept and follow -- no matter what he says. There is always some justification, isn't there?! Are we a nation of sheep? If McCain says all is well with the world, then why don't we all believe him?

Dishonest John (D. J. you dirty guy!) lied when he suddenly remembered his little story about the POW guard who "drew a cross with his foot in the dirt" which DJ claimed gave him strength (and hopes serves as fast food for the hypochristains, talibangelists and evilgelicals).....this story only shows up in DJ talk in the late 90's.....more recently it is revealed that Dishonest John McCain was, understandably, a big fan of Gulag prisoner Aleksander Solzhenitsyn....and it is FROM that man's book that Dishonest John got his little parable.

Currently, both McCain and Obama have no official leadership role in the crisis except they are senators and they have to vote whether they will support the yet to be proposed legislature. Both of them have no standing in the senate and house committees. Obama's suggestion is correct, both candidates should work out an agreed guidance paper, which is not binding, but do reflect what the future president is willing to live with.

On Friday night, Obama should take questions from the American people and explain what happened and how he plans to lead the country out of the mess.

Let McCain hide, keep Palin under wraps from the press. Sooner or later, I hope, the American people will get it.

This isn't Syria. It isn't North Korea. It isn't Saudi Arabia. People who aspire to the highest offices in the land MUST be accountable and MUST answer questions from the press and MUST debate their opponents. McCain/Palin's smearing of the press and hiding from their questions is simply unpatriotic.

LynnW or VA_Lady2008:

If a couple nukes had been detonated over American cities by terrorists this morning, would you still want the FOREIGN POLICY debate to go forward? You realize it's just a debate, and we have a $14 trillion economy, right? Barack HUSSEIN Obama should have accepted John SIDNEY McCain's prior offer to weekly townhall meetings if this one debate was sooooo important to him.

David,

Can you assure me that Carly Fiornia and Phil Gramm will accompany McCain to Washington tomorrow?

McCain says he doesn't know much about the economy and relies on his team of experts. Brilliant people with a track record of success.

The democrats are completely classless. Name-calling, whining, complaining, blaming, and never helping or coming up with a solution. When McCain wins - hunker down because all hell will break loose. I would expect rioting. The left is angry, bitter, and disrespectful(we saw that with the stunts displayed in St. Paul). If obama were to win - the Republicans wouldn't be happy, but would deal with it. When McCain wins - the left is going to absolutely lose their minds(if they haven't already).

Has McCain been drinking? This is the stupidest thing I have heard during the whole campaign.

OBAMA TO DEBATE HIS OWN TELEPROMPTER

(WASHINGTON DC) Obama has furiously promised to proceed forward with the debate despite McCain's absence to deal with the financial crisis.

"I will have a debate," Obama sneered.

"I will debate my teleprompter," Obama threatened.

"And my previous positions."

Other suggestions included just having the media skip the process of asking questions and simply attack McCain with Obama to add snipes in a condescending fashion.

I am so very sorry, I thought that McCain was the LEADER of the Republican Party, and that Obama was the LEADER of the Democratic Party.

Schumer sure showed us what a POLITICAL stunt looks like...

But Obama...oh right, he could NOT Chair his subcommittee on Afghanistan because he was too busy campaigning...and now he is too busy campaigning to go to WASHINGTON when the entire US economy might collapse?

I'm a Democrat. I am ashamed.

McCain is right. Both Obama and McCain are U.S. senators. They belong in the U.S. senate RIGHT NOW.

Somewhere outside of Florence beneath the Tuscan countryside soil, a cheshire cat's grin graces Machiavelli's skull.

I think the only fair thing to do is for Biden/Palin to switch debate dates with Obama/McCain and debate on Friday. This way all the preparation won't be lost; the McCain campaign will win points and not look like it's pulling another calculated stunt and Americans will hear from the VP candidates directly. Otherwise, McCain is comes off as unstable, not what you want in a president.
And since neither campaign takes a lot of off-the-cuff questions, the debates are critical to the process; they provide voters a glimpse into the candidates, their positions and their ability to persuade. Democracy needs debate. So let the debates begin!

Here's an idea: let's all criticize a senator for doing his job and trying to fix a problem right now.

Seriously, are you democrats all idiots? I am a resident of Illinois and to this day Senator Obama has not served my interests one iota. Instead, he has been campaigning from the very start. Even now, on the brink of the greatest financial disaster since 1929, he blasts Senator McCain for wanting to fix the problem now. No, Obama says, we don't need to do any work now, let's just let all of America lose money so that I can make someone else look bad while not actually doing anything to help myself.

Obama is pathetic. This is a crisis people. Crises need to be dealt with immediately, not 4 months from now on Innauguration Day.

With the election less than six weeks away, we should have more debates, not fewer. Talk about the financial crisis can wait for an hour or two.

I know that the GOP says this election isn't about issues but not answering questions during debates or during interviews or town halls is ridiculous. First Palin, now McCain. Unbelievable.

Oh Lordy. I think I'm gonna be a little sad when this campaign is over, 'cuz McCain is just so gosh-darned funny.

Suspend his campaign?? Does that mean that Romney can stand in for him?

Are we supposed to believe that McCain rushing back to Washington is going to fix this little mess we have here? Sorta like he did w/the Keating Five mess that he helped create? Is this how the man plans to govern?

He certainly has a flair for theatrics, doesn't he? And, in keeping w/that theme, I say that the show must go on! And shifting the topic to the Economy is a fabulous idea - one that I'm sure Obama would be happy to accommodate.

A great political move... puts obama in a no-win situation. McCain just wants to look like a real fixer, nothing to do with being afraid of the debate, the foreign policy debate, which naturally he will win, because on perception because most people already are convinced that is his natural strength. The race pulls back to even.

Of course he had to postpone the debate; his party and his life-long political philosophy are the root cause of the worst financial crisis since the great depression. He needs time to spin this. Debate now! Debate here! Debate baby debate!

JaxMax,

I'm waiting to hear Sarah Palin actually say something that someone else didn't write for her.

Thanks McBush for the wonderful eight years. My wages have gone down, I work longer hours and I have no healthcare! Now that's the kind of progress Republicans can believe in.

Now we see that McCain can only focus on one thing at a time. If McCain's in office, what do you think will get his attention? Healthcare or the War? The Economy or the War? Education or the War?

This move is genius. McCain should say to Obama "That's fine if you want to debate, while you're on a stage in Mississippi I'll be in Washington actually getting things done." He has really put Obama in a corner.

Wake up Democrats, you're playing with the big boys now.

Well, whaddaya know? Songbird really is a cowardly little punk. I knew it.

I'm sure his campaign staff thought this up; but still, I'm beginning to think he's losing his mind. Seriously.

Someone posted the following and it's dead on target:

I challenge anyone trumpeting the so-called altruism and bipartisan leadership of John McCain to answer the following question:

Q: Which of these scenarios represents bipartisanship, and which represents political opportunism?

(A) Crisis arises. Rivals discuss matter privately, agree to cooperate. Rivals then hold joint press conference to present their plan. Nation sees united front.

(B) Crisis arises. Rival M ignores highly unusual direct call from Rival O, strings him along for 6 hours, then sandbags everyone with a unilateral announcement reneging on a prior agreement, and publicly dares Rival O to follow suit or look bad. Bush White House piles on.

Which is which?

Does McCain think as a President he will only be facing one major issue at a time?

This is an obvious Catch-22 to attempt ensnaring the Obama camp. He can't agree or McCain is seen as the one reaching across the aisle, he can't disagree or the Republicans will make him out to be an elitist who doesn't care about America's problems. It's disgusting.

It reminds me of Sarah Palin: where Obama couldn't agree with the choice or she might appear actually qualified, but couldn't disagree with the choice without become a sexist elitist.

McChicken.

This makes Obama look petty and selfish -- which we all know he is.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 24, 2008 5:12 PM

Your comment is exactly what McCain wants you to think. Slander Obama. This is not about McCain being magnanamous, this is about McCain dropping in the polls and trying to make Obama look bad. McCain is a nasty, dirty loser. If he and Palin haven't drunk enough of the koolaid to be ready to spout off the neo-con talking points, then so be it. But the repubicans causing this disaster, and then trying to lay the blame on Obama is just disgusting.

Remember, the country, we save from Saddem Hussien, and gave all that money.
The country that has all that OIL, the War that was going to pay for itself, the WAR we were going to Welcome as LIBREATORS, the country that now has a surplus of 80 billions dollars.
What happen to our friends, the countries we pay to join us in this FACITO in IRAQ.
AS my mother told me when I was a young kid, THE ONLY FRIEND YOU HAVE IS A DOLLAR IN YOUR POCKET.
In the 2008 Herbert HOOVER has return..

This is not a good ploy because most Americans are not very sympathetic to Wall Street. All they will see is McCain signaling his support for the bail out. This will just further associate McCain with the entire mess. As for McCain also trying to use this to claim he is concerned about the economy,again,same problem, most Americans see Wall Street as what is wrong with the economy. Not what will fix it.

This is not a good ploy because most Americans are not very sympathetic to Wall Street. All they will see is McCain signaling his support for the bail out. This will just further associate McCain with the entire mess. As for McCain also trying to use this to claim he is concerned about the economy,again,same problem, most Americans see Wall Street as what is wrong with the economy. Not what will fix it.

This is comical. Honestly, the campaign's financial advisors can meet with the administration's advisors if additional ideas are needed. Nothing will get done if both candidates are present disagreeing with each other. It would be like a meeting at work with high level directors discussing issues at a high level view when detail level analysis is really needed to determine a course of action. Only the hardcore financial guys will figure this out (i.e. the guys that make recommendations to their respective candidates).

Obama Agrees to Debate Postponement after Gov. Palin Agrees to stand-in for Sen. McCain. Gov. Ed Rendell of PA thinks Barack is a chickensh@t for not accepting the challenge of debating someone of equal political experience.

See full coverage tonight on HDNet.

In 2005, McCain co-sponsored a bill to regulate Fanny/Freddie. Dems in Congress shot down the bill. Obama was Fannie's 3rd highest $$$ recipient:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aSKSoiNbnQY0

If the media doesn't call McCain on this nonsense, they are not doing their job. He really seems to think he can win this election by getting little bounces out of ridiculous ads, strange VP picks, and now this. I thought the Palin pick was the most transparently political thing I've ever seen. This is as bad, and possibly worse because it's a little bit pathetic too. I mean, if we take him at his word, that means he thinks he doesn't have the ability to work on the compromise and then hold a debate! Is he afraid of getting tired or something? Coach! Take me out of the game! I'm winded!

Bush fooled us on the Weapons of Mass Destruction ploy...and got 4,000 of our children killed.

READ MY LIPS! NOT THIS TIME!

Mr. McCain doesn't want to debate because there is NO WAY he can avoid having his rather large part as one of the fathers of this disaster come out. There's no way he can refute the fact that he wanted to "privatize" Social Security, which is about all a LOT of seniors will have left. There's NO WAY he can avoid being reminded that he was hip deep in the Keating 5.

Plus, and apparently and tragically, he must not have enough mental capacity to be able to focus on two important things at once.

Liberals are a cancer in America and McCain is the cure. Grow up, stop playing politics and start doing this. Obama can't just vote "present" on this one.

Liberals are a cancer in America and McCain is the cure. Grow up, stop playing politics and start doing this. Obama can't just vote "present" on this one.

McCain comander in-chief we want to see you in action on Friday! Don't hide in Washington.
The country want to see you and hear your way out of the crisis.
This is your chance to tell the country that you are no coward but a safe pair of hands in crisis.
Show us how inexperienced Obama is with your best weapon your experience.

McCain is a complete coward. This is not leadership. No one in Washington needs McCain. He hasn't even voted since April.

McCain is a RETARD! Worse even than Bush.

McCain has 73 lobbyists running his campaign . . do you actually think when suspending his campaign they didn't know what other lobbyists are already publishing as per the following?

"The deal on the "bail out" is 98% done. Treasury has capitulated on almost every point. A draft is circulating on the Hill now. No one needs McCain to help do the remaining 2%....except the White House who has no standing on this matter on the Hill with either Democrats or Republicans."

The Post should just borrow the headline from Will's column today and slap it on this one: "McCain loses his head."

Come to think of it, that headline works for about every "decision" McCain has made these past couple of weeks.

I challenge anyone trumpeting the so-called altruism and bipartisan leadership of John McCain to answer the following question:

Q: Which of these scenarios represents bipartisanship, and which represents political opportunism?

(A) Crisis arises. Rivals discuss matter privately, agree to cooperate. Rivals then hold joint press conference to present their plan. Nation sees united front.

(B) Crisis arises. Rival M ignores highly unusual direct call from Rival O, strings him along for 6 hours, then sandbags everyone with a unilateral announcement reneging on a prior agreement, and publicly dares Rival O to follow suit or look bad. Bush White House piles on.

Which is which?

It's official: McCain is Insane. This is the act of a desperate, unstable, dangerous man. He should suspend his campaign permanently and withdraw from the race, for his own mental well-being and the good of the country. Country First, remember, John?

McCoward -- Not Ready for Prime Time.

Come a crisis McCoward comes a cryin'.

The debate should be postponed.

John McCain looks like a President today.

In his announcement to temporarily suspend his Presidential campaign to return to Washington D.C. to work toward a bipartisan solution to the nation's economic situation, Sen. McCain is demonstrating what real leadership is.

John McCain is putting our country first and politics second. It's the right thing to do.

Sen. Barack Obama should follow Sen. McCain's lead

visit

RealDemocratsUSA.org

Taking back our party, one neighborhood at a time

Join us!!

This is called "Pulling a Palin out of the Hat." Just as he succeeded in stunting Obama's post-convention bounce by picking Sarah Palin out of nowhere to be his running mate, now McCain comes out with this new political trick to stop his recent free-fall in the polls. What a convenient time to suspend the political campaign. Shamelessly, he does this under the guise of 'Country First' to pressure Obama into also halting his campaign and postponing the debate. I hope public opinion does not allow Mac the Magician to pull another fast one.

SEND PALIN TO DEBATE DEADHEAD OBAMA

Since McCain is actually putting the Country first by returning to Washington---send Gov. Palin to eviscerate Obama in the debate.

There will be higher ratings....

McCain should be prepared to debate any one at anytime if he has confidence in his positions and his track record. I thought knew what congressional panic looked like earlier today. We'll see the stock market nose dive in response to this shameful lack of leadership.

anything forwarded by the bush admin can't possibly be good for the masses ... they haven't done that yet ... why should it start now.

Didn't McCain whine on The View recently that he was forced to go negative because Obama wouldn't participate in any Town Hall forums? So now that McCain will actually have the opportunity to face Obama, he punks out claiming he has to get to Washington to mediate the financial crisis. Give me a break. The real answer is the polls are breaking Obama's way, the media is no longer McCain's base, the bloom is off Palin's rose and even McCain's aged eyes can see the writing on the wall. It's over, McChicken, over.

Easy fix. Hold the debate in Washington.

Just to enlighten you die-hard McCain supporters, Senator Obama reached out to John McCain at 8:30 this morning to come together and make a joint statement on the issue of the economy. Several hours later, John McCain took it upon himself to make a public announcement that HE was suspending his campaign, and made it seem like it was his idea because he cares so much about the economy that his campaign is not importance right now, and yada, yada, yada...Come on, we're not stupid. Stop running Johnny! What are you afraid of? Wouldn't it make more sense right now, to debate the issues and discuss gameplan for fixing this economic mess? If he was that concerned, he would have gone back to Washington way before now. Maybe it’s just me…

Obama/Biden 08!

"Good for him. At least there is one adult running for the highest office...."

Unlike jt who knows only how to copy/paste.

COUNTRY FIRST.

Help me, I'm a confused old man! I'm confused by this stock meltdown. I can't remember the address to any of my homes, either. Can we debate next month instead?

Groan! LOL what a gimmick. The idea of McCain leading the charge to fix the economy is hilarious. What's he going to do? Bomb, bomb, bomb it? Mmmmm the current administration already tried that. Not working.

There are other cooler, more qualified heads to fix this mess. The candidates need to stick to the debates. But McCain just blinked - and it is going to show that he is unprepared - all cluck and no meat. For all his mockery, could it be that McSame is a tad intimidated by the community organizer?

McCain is a chicken and a weasel.

This makes Obama look petty and selfish -- which we all know he is.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 24, 2008 5:12 PM
------------------------------------------
No, it actually makes Obama look like the only qualified candidate, which we all know he is.

If McCain is incapable of both focusing on a crisis and explaining his position surrounding it (or, in his case, his ever-changing multiple positions), he isn't qualified to be the president. Presidents have to be able to do more than one thing at a time.

Sarah Palin should take John McCain's place and debate Obama -- prove she's ready to step in should something happen to McCain. Obama won't be near as tough as Putin.
C'mon Sarah. Prove to us all that you're ready.
Get it now???

This makes Obama look petty and selfish -- which we all know he is.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 24, 2008 5:12 PM
------------
Actually
This makes McCain look like a lame-brain wuss.

Breaking News!!!
Michele Obama calls Sen. McCain a chickensh@t. Wants cage match instead of debate.

PA Gov. Ed Rendell to comment soon.

Watch Debate/Match in full-HD on HDNet

One key thing will be what McCain does in Washington, so far he has not been (or Obama) any sort of key player in this.

I like that idea! Send Sarah Palin in to handle Obama!!! ----------

How the Democrats Created the Financial Crisis??? You've got to be kidding? It's time they all take ownership of the mess this country is in all in the name of corporate greed and profits.

McCain keeps trying every political trick in the book - I hope republican's start to see him for the "flip flopper" he is. Let him go back to Washington, it's about time he earns his keep.

Oh, If you're parent try this - Kids, I will let you self regulate with no consequences to any wrong actions. Let us know how that works out.

The man is utterly without honor.

It may seem like McCain has put Obama in a corner. But there is a simple response.

Obama should demand that the debate go on. The presidency is a demanding job, and you must be able to handle many complex tasks simultaneously, especially in times of crisis.

If senator McCain cannot find an hour of time to go across the street to the studio for a debate, then he is not well organized and is not leading properly.

In times of crisis the president can't duck and hide, he must be visible and coherent.

Focus the debate on the economy and kill two birds with one stone.

Bob says - "Vote McCain, at least he does not inspire cult followings."

You're kidding, you've got to be kidding.

You must be one of the people who've made enough money over the past eight years that you've benefitted from Bush's policies, which McCain intends to continue - so you're fine with how things are working in this country as they stand right now.

You're happy with the lack of accountability, oversight and regulation? You're happy with the fact that the average tax payer is going to foot the bill to all these private companies whose share holders and CEOs have made millions while the average worker has seen their wages stagnate or fall?

The man is truly without shame. We want to know how both candidates will deal with the issue going forward NOW. DEBATE AS SCHEDULED! Don't jerk us around. We are already angry, no, enraged! Having worked all our lives, sacrificing, scrimping, saving, we thought we saved just enough. Now this. To make the matters worse, McCain is playing this such transparent desperate games. Explain your votes to deregulate, deregulate, R. Davis payment from Fannie, Freddie or whatever, your role in S&L scandal, etc. We want to know.

McCain can't do more than one thing at a time? So if a similar situation arises tomorrow when he is the President, is he going to stop attending to other issues? He's been hopping from this end to the other end of the country daily but he can't hop back in time for the debate? What a bunch of BS he and his supporters are enacting? Obama was right in saying that the debate is the most important thing that the people needs to watch. The candidates owes it to the people. Yesterday, Palin was running away from the media and now McCain is running away from the debates. I just can't believe there are still some people who are supporting this fool.

go forit Mc Cain maybe you can keep the dem awake long enough to get a vote

Call him Stuntmuffin.

its like mccain is in school. he's not ready to give his presentation so he asks the teacher for more time.

Senator with 26-year record of disdain for oversight and regulation of U.S. financial institutions calls off presidential debate as to offer his personal oversight
for lending/insurance institutions that have crashed due to lack of political oversight and regulation!

Does anyone see the sick irony here?
Shakespeare couldn’t write this stuff!

Mccain are you strong enough, are you mentally fit, and is your health capable to endure the demand for the job?
Evidentially not!

Foomonkey, thank you. By the way, the proposal was only three pages long!!!!

HOW LONG COULD IT TAKE TO READ? ARE MCCAIN's EYES THAT BAD?

Could Bush and the Neo Cons have failed this country any more? One massive failure after another. Unbelievable.

Oh no its not a gimmick....now are there any suckers..err...I mean true Americans out there who want to buy some Bear-Stearns stock..

That's a good idea. We republican's never back down. Johnny Mac can go to DC and we can have Sarah Palin vs. Joe Biden. That will let us debate Friday and increase the VP Debates to 2!! Good idea.

This does not reflect well on McCain. While he might think it makes it look like he cares about this issue, what it really implies is that the man can't do 2 things at once. As president, he or Obama will have days where there are handling 10 crises at once. Do you mean to tell me that McCain can't handle a day of working on the bailout, and then do a debate at night? He'd better suck it up and show some fortitude if he wants to be my president.

McCain uses pre-Depression financial crisis, harkens back to Naval Academy boxing matches and proposes that McCain-Obama debates be reformated to be like a twelve round boxing match:

Demands that Sarah be the ring girl and that Hillary be Obama's cut man.

No response yet from the Obama camp.

This has been one long running comedy show. You can't make this stuff up! These republicans are giving comedian all around the world never ending material!

Why no send Palin to Washington to straighten out this while you are debating then the two of you can switch.

A McCain senior adviser said that Obama called McCain early Wednesday morning to asking a joint statement of "shared principles and conditions" for the bailout proposal.
An Obama campaign source confirmed the call and said that McCain returned his call six hours later, and accepted the concept and suggested the two of them return to Washington to join the negotiations. The source says that Obama told him that he would do that only if negotiators saw it as useful.
According to the Obama source, soon after they ended the call, McCain announced he was suspending his campaign and returning to Washington.

Gary Seven wrote: "Palin is the one with the balls on that ticket."
_____________

LOL!

Little Miss Jesus Mooseburger is even scared of the press! What is Balls so scared of? She is such a phoney. I can't believe you admire that corrupt and lying piece of trash.

Dear President Obama, show up Friday and take the stage to answer the questions of the American People. Have the camera not take close-ups. Use the shot that shows the empty chair next to you.
If that crowd in DC needs you they'll call you.
YOU ARE NEEDED AT THAT DEBATE!!! He needs to hide. And that is why Rove is trying this scam. Now instead of backing Obama in a corner, McCain is in it. Carl, Carl, Carl, this was not your finest trick. You're slipping son. By the way, How's Scooter doing these days? Is he making a few bucks while he waits for GW to DISGRACE HIMSELF AGAIN ?

Muck FcCush

Unfortunately, this is a run away attempt by McCain. He could have made this announcement on Monday or last week, but waited two days before the debate. Something sounds fishy. Senator McCain, I no longer support you as you and Governor Palin have shown no backbone and have never stated your proposed policies to Americans.

Seriously - if you can't multi-task you can't be president. mccain is in over his head and he can't hack it - so he call a crisis after 8 years of his parties economic leadership.

And why can't he call on his VP choice to run the campaign while he's gone - because she can't do anything off script as the UN meetings clearly showed.

He's not a leader and he knows it.

The deal is Congress is dead! The Republicans aren't going for it, they don't want any regular people to get anything.
They don't want to cut back on CEO salaries.
No bailouts for normal people, just the big co's!
Rethugnicans are all liars and thieves!
You voted for Bush, especially in 2004, YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR VOTING RIGHTS TAKEN AWAY.
THIS IS DEREGULATION AT ITS FINEST!

This is nothing more than a ploy by McCain who is particularly vulnerable at this juncture, given his laissez-faire approach to regulation which allowed this full-blown economic crisis to happen under the watch of his party. He is now trying to bully a proposal through Congress to reduce further damage to the Bush presidency(way too late for that) or to his prospects in November. By trying to delay the debate, McCain gets to buy time, help push through some half-baked plan through congress, and then turn around and proclaim his leadership on economic issues. There is nothing but selfish self-interest at work here. If the economy, or the well-being of the average American were of any concern to McCain has had more than enough opportunity to demonstrate that. Let's hope the Obama campaign, and the American people don't fall for this latest McCain subterfuge.

This just in.
Obama Campaign threatens lawsuit to keep debate schedule.
Obama caught totally off guard by McCain move.
Gov. Ed Rendell of PA to comment soon.

Get the full story on HDNet

This makes Obama look petty and selfish -- which we all know he is.

Five days ago the economy was sound, now it's a crisis that mandates calling off the debate. Kind of hard for my head to spin that fast. If we are in such dire straights, I think a debate about the future leadership could not be more timely and if anything, the schedule should be moved up! He's not fooling me for a second. McCain's campaign and his inescable history of advocacy for deregulation and the wealthly is what is in crisis as this country wises up.

Why doesn't McCain send Sarah Palin in his place. That's why he picked here - to stand in for him when he can't be there. That way he can handle Washington and she can debate with Obama or Biden, either one. I WANT A DEBATE FRIDAY!!

JaxMax,

Yeah, your candidate's positions haven't changed...I mean McCain has always been for regulation, right?

You're a sheep just like these other brainless Republican automatons that are too cowardly to accept responsibility for what they have done to this country.

It was obvious that McCain was scared of the Foreign Policy Debate next Friday. But to use the financial crisis as an excuse for cancelling it was a stupid stunt. McCain admittedly knows nothing about economics and can not be helpful in the difficualt negotiations of the Banking Committee, the Fed, and the Treasury Secretary. He has no business introducing his campaign politics into the Senate.

"I think it will be the president’s job to deal with more than one thing at once." THE END

NEWS FLASH!!!!!!

McCain wants to delay the election to next year as a show that he really-REally-REALLY! cares about America.

Oh, I don't know, maybe because there are 533 other members of Congress who are more than qualified to debate and tackle this issue? And have been doing so for the past 8 months while Senators McCain and Obama have been campaigning? How about the hundreds of bills that were debated and passed/voted down this year that had a direct impact on daily lives of every day Americans and not just the wealthy and their investment portfolios.

Senator McCain can take a few hours out his schedule to travel to the Gulf region to snap photos and a throw out a few sound bites before hurricane Gustav hit, but he can't take a few hours to explain to the country his vision for the direction of our country in the next four years?

Astounding. Irresponsible. Again.

McCain thinks the fundamentals of the economy are sound, so why is this suddenly such a huge crisis that he's required to suspend his campaign? Oh, wait, could it be those falling poll numbers? He doesn't even understand what the problem is. Last week he stated that it was all Barack Obama's fault. Please tell me how McCain's presence in Washington is going to change anything.

What a punk way to avoid a debate, trying to grandstand as if he will save the day like the lone ranger. Still a hero wannabee.

Anything to get out of a debate. Anything to get out of discussing actual policy.
Anything to avoid a discussion of McCain's involvement with previous banking scandals.

He's already behind by 10 points in Colorado and it's getting worse each day. He either needs to debate policy or he needs to pack it in because this smoke and mirror baloney isn't working.

What happened to straight talk? Now it's No Talk.

Correction: McCain SAYS he Calls for Debate Delay to Focus on Financial Crisis

Meanwhile... Presidential Candidate Obama looked and sounded oh so presidential and reassuring at his news conference today as he took questions from reporters. The contrast between him and runaway McCain could not have been more CLEAR!!!

FEDERAL HOUSING ENTERPRISE REGULATORY REFORM ACT OF 2005
The United States Senate

May 25, 2006

For years I have been concerned about the regulatory structure that governs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac–known as Government-sponsored entities or GSEs–and the sheer magnitude of these companies and the role they play in the housing market. OFHEO’s report this week does nothing to ease these concerns. In fact, the report does quite the contrary. OFHEO’s report solidifies my view that the GSEs need to be reformed without delay.
I join as a cosponsor of the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005, S. 190, to underscore my support for quick passage of GSE regulatory reform legislation. If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole.
I urge my colleagues to support swift action on this GSE reform legislation.

I think it's appropriate for McCain's instincts to want to take him back to Washington. He is a public servant first and a candidate second.

However, this country will be better served by watching the two men, one of whom will lead us through the next crisis, debate their views on this one.

Therefore, Obama's counter-proposal should be to scrap the national security topic and have this Friday's debate focus on the economy, the most important issue in this country right now.

Obama says now is the time for the country to hear from the candidates about the financial crisis but the debate has been set to discuss foreign policy. Obama has said nothing about the possible outcome of the Administration's proposal but every news agency is reporting that the prospects for the propsal are getting grim. American families' futures are at risk and it sounds like McCain is trying to do something while Obama is trying to do nothing.

Very Very Shrewd.
Traps Obama. Traps the Democrats.
Looks very Presidential.
Too Bad Barack hadn't thought of this first.

Get the full story on HDNet

OoPs!

I take credit for the Neocon-DINO-Fascist comment.

The economy's being pushed off a cliff and Obama pretty much just said, "If you need me, give me a call."

He's just like Bush and that goddamned ranch.

Until recently I had planned to vote for John McCain...I have great respect for his years of service. But, he is not up for the job to be President. I believe his first mistake was choosing Palin for VP. There are many qualified women in the GOP. Palin is not one of them...Now he's playing politics with the economy. He and Palin refuses to answer questions from reporters...Obama shines over McCain in every area. We need a true leader, which we haven't had for 8 years...

re: Posted by: MJ | September 24, 2008 4:57 PM
McCain: Let's go to work and fix this.
Obama: I'd rather just talk about it, er, uh, duh, uh, call me if you need me, I have to prepare for the debate.

dude... obama made the offer for a joint release, and mccain jumps on six hours later as if it's all his idea.

he admitted the other day that he hadn't even read the proposal!

"As recently as yesterday, when a reporter asked him about his position on the Bush administration’s financial proposals, McCain said, “I have not had a chance to see it in writing. I have to examine it.”"

give me a break

That's a great idea. Why not relocate the debate to Washington? I hope Obama continues without him. I know he's keeping up with events, and being prepared for scheduled debates at the same time. This is irritating.

Mcdreamy needs to snap out of wonderland..

The OLD FART can't do 2 things at once!
Have a debate, and try as hard as he can, to think about the economy!
Bush EVEN DISAGREES WITH THE SAD OLD SACK.
MCDOOM IS MORE LIKE IT!
Ric Davis, has no involvement in Fannie and Freddie, really? IF YOU DON'T CONSIDER $2 MILLION DOLLARS INVOLVEMENT!
WHAT A BUNCH OF ROVIAN LIARS
MCROVE, OR JOHN BUSH, IS TRYING TO LOOK PRESIDENTIAL. WELL, HIS GOOSE IS COOKED, IT'S ALL OVER T.V.!
EVERYONE KNOWS OBAMA CALLED MCBUSH FIRST, WHICH WAS A SUGGESTION FROM TOM COBURN, REPUBLICAN, OKLAHOMA, SO MCGOO IS AN IDIOT!
CHRIS MATTHEWS JUST SAID, MCCAIN IS IN DETERIORATING MODE!
MCINSANE, IS FALLING APART, BEFORE OUR VERY EYES!
HE NEEDS TO MAKE PALIN WALK AROUND NUDE!

He can do whatever he wants, but he is on track to be the loser in November and if he wants to drop out now, fine.

We're not going to miss him or his joke of a running mate.

Hey Julie,
You said obama had a press conference and answered questions. Are you sure? Or did he talk in circles(barry clearly loves the sound of his own voice)and say absolutely nothing. And people keep forgetting that obama is running for Pres. - Palin is running for VP. Plus she's not speaking to the biased media because they treating her unfairly - while they are falling all over obama. Voting obama may be the popular to do, but not the smart thing to do. obama is all talk and no action. If you believe that he is going to do all the things he claims - you're crazy - look at his record, it doesn't add up.

The media has an obligation to present this latest development to the public truthfully. I.e., it's a stunt. A very, very transparent stunt.

The media has an obligation to present this latest development to the public truthfully. I.e., it's a stunt. A very, very transparent stunt.

Don, get your facts straight and stop lying. McCain has missed more votes than Obama.

I guess lying has become a habit with you people.

Is McCain running for a Senate seat or is he running for the Presidency?

If he wants to be back in the Senate, then he needs to drop out of the campaign all together and get back to his day job.

There are enough folks in House and the Senate that can handle this problem. Johnny Boy is not going to make a difference by going to Washington.

Otherwise, he needs to get back on that campaign trail.

It has become clear that if he can't run his campaign while at the same time helping with this issue, then he does not need to be President of this country.

Lets face it, neither Obama or McCain are the most knowledgeable senators on finance. I am sure in this day and age of modern communication that they can provide any input needed. Also as Obama pointed out they both have jets at their disposal to get to Washington as needed.

I suspect Obama was pushing a joint action only to have McCain jump at the chance to upstage Obama.

As several have said in the news the last thing this economic crisis needs is for it to be made more of a political football.

Though a stunt, it is a good one for a man who has no good ideas. He will find this gimmick to be favorable to him and he will stop obama's momentum.

"It's funny. McCain was the MSM's darling until he began to pose a serious threat to affirmative action in the White House."
_________________________________________
Sorry, but no. McCain was the darling of the media until he hired Karl Rove's goons and went along with their plan to win the election by pitting 'reg'lar 'murikans" against the "liberal elite media".

When you've made unfettered access your political signature for decades, then freeze reporters out for over a month and start calling them names; when your vaunted "straight talk" express becomes the "no talk" express; there's a price tag attached.

McCain is paying it now.

actually, mccain was called back only to pass *bush's* plan, which he now says he never said he would support. he's dancing in so many directions at once, the pratfall here is going to be simply epic. obama should just sit back and say, 'the guy's been out of his chair since april, and now he wants to go back? to set things straight in our economy, which has "strong" fundamentals? yeah, right.

Once again, Senator Arugula is slow on the uptake.

I love seeing people mention Rick Davis working as a lobbyist 3 years ago as evidence of McCain's "corruption" even as Obama accepted 125k from Fannie and his boys Franklin Raines and Jim Johnson are about to be investigated by the FBI for their actions while CEO of Fannie and Countrywide. The NYT and libs are grasping at straws while they circle the drain...

Posted by: Don | September 24, 2008 5:02 PM

------------------
I lve how WRONG you are. I love how little informed you are.

Care to brush up on the truth?

The total listed for Obama is $126,349 — a tiny fraction of the approximately $390 million his campaign has raised, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The list shows McCain has received a total of $21,550 from Fannie and Freddie employees. The list includes donations of at least $200 from those who receive paychecks from Fannie and Freddie. It also includes donations from political action committees — pooled contributions from employees. Obama decided early in his presidential run not to accept PAC contributions, but the Center for Responsive Politics' list includes all contributions for members of Congress dating back to 1989 — including Obama and McCain's Senate campaigns.

The New York Times has published a separate list looking at contributions from "directors, officers, and lobbyists for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac" for the 2008 campaign cycle. That list — using figures from the Federal Election Commission — shows McCain receiving $169,000, while Obama received only $16,000.

And by the way Franklin Raines had nothing to do with ANY of the money from Freddy and Fanny to EITHER campaigns

OOPS!

Sorry
A list of employee contributions including lobbyists and directors shows McCain getting more.

And far more important is this....

One of the giant mortgage companies at the heart of the credit crisis paid $15,000 a month from the end of 2005 through LAST MONTH

thats LAST MONTH
NOT TWO YEARs AGO

LAST MONTH

to a firm owned by Senator John McCain’s campaign manager. Mr. Davis’s firm, Davis & Manafort, had been kept on the payroll because of Mr. Davis’s close ties to Mr. McCain, the Republican presidential nominee, who by 2006 was widely expected to run again for the White House.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/09/obamas_fannie_mae_connection.html

The Neocon-Fascist Republicans and DINO-Fascist Democrats in Washington just don't get it.

WE THE PEOPLE are not going to let them steal our money anymore.

Trying to stifle debate including debate between the two leading presidential candidates at a time like this sends a clear message to WE THE PEOPLE. Our government is going to continue to do whatever the hell it wants to do.

It's time to break out the pitchforks and liberty torches. There's a revolution to be started! There are traitors that must address our grievances. There's a country that must be rebuilt.

"When you are commander in chief you do not pick and choose you resposibilities. Having a debate tommorrow is a responsibility. Go to Washington if you think you should. I think that coming in late will add to the confusion. But whatever you do show up in Oxford, MS tomorrow night."

This is the most ignorant statement that I have ever seen. Being a SENATOR and doing your sworn duty for the citizens of your state is your responsibility. Libs are soooo 180 degrees of phase...

Obama has shirked his duty as Senator for 50% of his Senate career, maybe he should try being one for a couple of days...

Yes Fred you are correct....and Democrats won the Congress 2 years saying they could fix all the problems and look at us now. Your Savior of a candidate says he can fix everything yet cannot even go back to D.C. and do hios job as a Senator

Posted by: shane | September 24, 2008 4:50 PM
____________

Shane, your president has vetoed every single good thing this Congress has tried to do. If you party was in power, this bailout bill would have been approved and signed on Sunday night with no debate.

Pull your head out of the sand and get a clue. When Bush took office we had a budget surplus and a 5 trillion dollar debt. Now our budget is billions in the red and we're borrowing money from the Chinese to bailout your buddies on WallStreet so they can keep their homes in the Hamptons.

McCain is a tool of BushCo and their partner ChinaMart (and its outlet WalMart). Your traitorous leader Bush (with McCain help) sold or traded away the guts of the working/middle class savings and futures to the Commies who now demand that the dollar be devalued.

I understand the Chinese will YouTube the many videos they have of McCain when, during his stay at the Hanoi Hilton, he would bark like a dog, bray like a donkey or whatever they demanded, while crawling around smeared in his own feces.

Very Very Shrewd.
Traps Obama. Traps the Democrats.
Looks very Presidential.
Too Bad Barack hadn't thought of this first.

Get the full story on HDNet

What a silly stupid stunt.

As "a" senator, McCain has far less influence than as a candidate for President. Barbara Boxer can shout all she wants but when Obama speaks, people will listen.

The purpose of President is to FACE issues, not run away from them. THAT is nothing but cowardice.

Obama can debate himself, his positions are already schizophrenic.

We are facing crises on almost every front --- not least a leadership crisis. It's extremely important that both campaigns should proceed as scheduled so we can have a real change in leadership next Jan.

I don't see how a financial crisis disables a candidate from carrying on with his campaign.

This guy has already been given too much leeway in defining the terms (he has been saying experience matters until he chose Palin) and setting the tone of the election (which is nasty). Enough about his silliness.

Obama has already replied, from a quote from Sarah Palin...Thanks, But No Thanks....I do not need your bridge to nowhere, now let teh debates go forward, McCain will do fine on the topic to be presented National Security and Foreign Policy.

So no need to stall, or turn this into a political item. This looks like crap, especially if it is true the Obama called him first this am and offered a joint statement, and then Johnny called a presser to announce his suspenders. Lame

The debate is around 9pm, I don't see how that would have any conflict with what's going on. Even if it did the debate is just as important. Don't be coward get on the stage and get your whooping Mr. Maverick no need to run and hide you coward.

I just came across an excellent article in Science Magazine (the most prestigious scientific journal in US).

In short, the more a person is afraid of mice and spiders, the more likely he is to vote for Republicans.

It's not that liberals are afraid; all the cowards will vote for McCain.

--------------

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/321/5896/1667

McCain doesn't want to debate while his elevator is plunging.

Give me a BREAK!!!
McCain hasn't voted on ANYTHING since APRIL and he wants to go back to Washington NOW?!??!
He's been absent from his responsibilities as a Senator for MONTHS - suddenly, when his poll numbers are dipping he starts to act?
He must think the rest of us are really that dumb.

>>> In the grand scheme of things, the presidential debates are *much* more important than a mere $700 billion dollars

Yeah right! A debate on this Friday instead of next Friday is more important than throwing away 700 billions! Now I know what all the enlightened followers of The One are like!

Vote McCain, at least he does not inspire cult followings.

Bravo Senator McCain for focusing on America first and putting aside personal ambition for a few days to do what is needed.

Sarah Palin is not a US Senator and need not be on Capitol hill to work out a well thought out solution to this financial crisis so she can stand in for John McCain at the debate on Friday night in Mississippi.

I see why Senator Obama does feel the need to put America first and suspend his campaign.

His goal is to continue the crisis and hope for it to worsen until November 5 then he knows the media who have been talking down the economy for seven years to prepare his way will suddenly become cheerleaders of the economy and suddenly proclaim "Wow our economic future is bright Americans please start buying again."

Does Bush realize he is no longer a con man?

A televised lie is still a lie.

I say let Wall Street crumble.

Call their bluff.

McCain can't even spell finance.

McCain is a coward. He is running away from his responsibility to the American people. We want to hear directly from him in a live debate about the great issues of domestic and foreign policy that affect our nation's future.

If McCain is incapable of participating in an hour-long debate then he is unfit for the presidency. We need someone who is strong, confident, willing to act with deliberation and insight in a crisis.

In today' travesty McCain has revealed himself as a coward who puts crass political ambition above the needs of our nation.

Over the last month, McCain proved that he was a liar. Now we see that he is a coward too. What a dishonorable man.

McCain unable to multitask! Or, for that matter, do any task.

Any time liberals get on a blog, they display for the world to see their compassion, tolerance for other views, and deep knowledge of national and world affairs. Do you people have any idea how ugly you look?

This is nothing but a cheap tactic. I am particularly pissed by his making this announcement unilaterally and not mentioning anything about the "country first" proposal that Obama has privately raised with him earlier. His public and unilateral announcement is in stark contrast with Obama's thoughtful and fair handling of the whole matter which is seek an agreement with your opponent first before you make any public announcement.

By not mentioning Obama's earlier gesture and making a unilateral announcement, it's so obvious that McCain is just trying to score political points; his so-called "country first" is once again a joke.

Um, hate to break it to you, Johnny, but Congress is quite capable of addressing grave economic issues without your oh so wise input ("the fundamentals are strong", eh?). You might actually pay attention to what is going on - there is a bipartisan effort going forward at this moment and you aren't crucial to that effort.
_____--
Um hate to break it to you MEG but a top house Republican has told ABC news that the bailout won't pass unless McCain doesn't come out and support it.. Does that sound like McCain isn't crucial to you? Either McCain or Obama will be the next president of this country.. what is decided in the next couple of days will be the overriding factor on how they will be able to run this country.. and you don't think it is crucial that they be apart of it?

"Quick look over here look over here. Ignore the Palin interview tonight. Over here. Over here!"

johnTX for the win!

McCain is not a bright man. He literally can't handle two things at once. He is mentally and intellectually (and morally) incapable of leading.

How can we expect him to be president when he becomes overwhelmed so easily? He doesn't EVEN DO the job he was "hired" to do, and now he can't debate with Obama?

Hmmmm, I wonder why?

McCain is such a loser. Aren't you Republicans embarrassed?

The economy's being pushed off a cliff and Obama pretty much just said, "If you need me, give me a call."

He's just like Bush and that goddamned ranch.

If we don't move in a new positive direction, and fast, this country is doomed. McCain needs to man up and take part in the debate as scheduled. We don't see Obama backing down now, do we??

Anonymous writes: "Really! If the debate must be put off let Biden and Palin debate friday. They can fill in and we can see what Palin knows without having another week of tutoring. Surely McSame wouldn't object if he must make a show in Washington."
-----------------

Excellent idea! Yeah, let's move that one up. Oh right. Palin is busy speed-dating "world leaders."

"The topic of Senator Obama's call to Senator McCain was never discussed...."

No, that's not a complete lie. No way.

http://mentalshift.newsvine.com/

Palin is the one with the balls on that ticket.

Time for the old codger to ride the three-wheeler down to Dell Webs where he can get a shot or two of Geritol on tap, have Cindy set the TIVO to catch the rerun of Matlock so he won't miss anything REALLY important, and show up for his date with destiny after all on Friday night. Straight talk? Phooey! This is about as serpentine and Byzantine a load of malarkey as I've ever seen shoveled out of a horse barn! Who's buying it? Certainly not this voter and you shouldn't either!

Obama AT 8:30 AM this morning, proposes a joint statement, McLame goes ahead and do it himself.
McInsane, HAS NO HONOR!

Is McCain campaigning for a Senate seat or his he campaigning for the Presidency.

If he wants to be back in the Senate, then he needs to drop out of the campaign all together and get back to his day job.

Otherwise, he needs to get back on that campaign trail.

Another cynical play from the Republicans. On with the debate.

Are you kidding me? Who does McCain think we are, Fred Flintstone? We are not stupid, Mr. McCain. You don't want to debate because you have nothing to say. if you do not show up for the debate, you will have shown this country your true character..you are AFRAID! Dont dare try to use this financial fiasco our country is going thru to your advantage!

Hep me, hep me, Meester Obama. I've fallen into my bowl of corn flakes.

I love seeing people mention Rick Davis working as a lobbyist 3 years ago as evidence of McCain's "corruption" even as Obama accepted 125k from Fannie and his boys Franklin Raines and Jim Johnson are about to be investigated by the FBI for their actions while CEO of Fannie and Countrywide. The NYT and libs are grasping at straws while they circle the drain...

Yes Fred you are correct....and Democrats won the Congress 2 years saying they could fix all the problems and look at us now. Your Savior of a candidate says he can fix everything yet cannot even go back to D.C. and do hios job as a Senator

Posted by: shane | September 24, 2008 4:50 PM

------------------------
Umm you do realize that the Dems dont have the votes to get anything done right?
You do realize that in the last two years that filibusters are the highest in US history over the shortest period in time in US History?
You do realize that Bush only vetoed ONE single bill as president before the Dems got their slim majority in the house and senate?
you do realize that he now vetoes EVERY bill sent to him that manages to clear the house or senate?

You do realize that being a president requires being able to multi-task and that solving this crisis and still making yourself available to the American poeple to decide on an election are not mutually exclusive?

Do you realize anything?
Anything at all?

MJ,

Your candidate did not even beleve there was a problem last week. Now he's going to solve it?

Is he going to bring along Phil Gramm too? If he does, I'll be liquidating my portfolio on Friday.

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)
Representing: Arizona
Votes: 412 votes missed (64.1%), 231 votes cast

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