Say What?

by hilzoy

So I return from a day of teaching and discover that John McCain has decided to suspend his campaign and return to Washington DC, the better to deal with our nation's urgent problems. Goody! It might have been even better had he bothered to show up for even a single one of the 108 Senate votes that have been taken between April 8, when he last showed up, and today. Who knows how many problems might have been averted had John McCain managed to show up before today?

Seriously, though, I agree with Steve Benen: this is flailing desperation. It also makes no sense: he's still giving some speeches, but he has stopped airing ads. Does anyone seriously think that airing ads would seriously impair John McCain's ability to address this crisis? Does he usually wind the ad tapes himself? Does he go around to all the TV stations in order to say "I'm John McCain and I approve this message" in person? Somehow, I don't think so.

He's down in the polls. His "brilliant" VP pick is not wearing well, even in her virtual press seclusion. His responses to a genuine crisis are all over the map. So he decides that rather than scaling back his appearances and being quietly helpful behind the scenes, he will descend on Washington, cameras in tow, and posture.

Josh Marshall has it right:

"Bringing the presidential candidates and their press entourages back to Capitol Hill won't speed or improve the process of coming up with a good bailout deal. It will politicize it. That's so transparently obvious that it barely requires stating. And of course that is the point.

By going public with his 'suspension' announcement as a breaking news statement McCain intended to make any agreement between the candidate impossible. Contrast that with Obama's campaign, which apparently tried to get both campaigns to agree on a common set of principles privately before going public. There's no logical reason there can't be a presidential debate while a bailout plan is being negotiated."

Country First, indeed.

Comments

[cleek]

here's my prediction:

he's going to meet with the rest of the Congressional GOP, behind closed doors. they'll all walk out of there, united, fists raised, with a Plan To Save America (it'll have a snappy name, maybe a clever acronym). the Dems will, of course, not let it go anywhere. and they'll run on that for the next 40 days.

but really, this is like yelling "no, stop, the teacher's calling!" while the other guy's got you in a headlock.

[A.J.]

McCain basically just admitted he doesn't have what it takes to handle the Presidency. What's he going to do if -- just to pick a hypothetical -- North Korea decides to uncork its nuclear program while we're trying to address a liquidity crisis on Wall Street?

I suppose he could ask Palin to handle it. After all, Pyongyang is closer to Alaska than Moscow, so she must be a real expert.

[John Cole]

Flop sweat.

[david kilmer]

I agree with you about the ads. But even if it doesn't work out for him, it's a brilliant gamble - and pure McCain.

[cleek]

I suppose he could ask Palin to handle it.

K-Lo, over at The Corner, is suggesting that maybe Palin should step in for McCain at the debate (while McPOW sits congress down and tells them to Cut The Bullsh!t, i presume).

pleasepleasepleaseplease!

[John Cole]

I agree with you about the ads. But even if it doesn't work out for him, it's a brilliant gamble - and pure McCain.

Yes. Sheer brilliance. I look forward to the media replaying the clip of Obama saying "I think the President should be able to do more than one thing at a time" over and over again and then cracking jokes about being able to walk and chew gum.

There is definite upside there for McCain.

[KCinDC]

McCain can't debate or run ads because of his laserlike focus on fixing the economy, but he can find time to meet with Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild.

[now_what]

Coward.

[Johnson's Dog]

McCain's handlers have been prepping him for the debate. My guess is that at an early point it became evident to all parties that McCain could not speak to the economic troubles sure to be the focus of the first debate, so this scheme was hatched as a cover.

[Turbulence]

Has McCain actually stopped airing ads? I thought that his campaign said they would do that pending an agreement with the Obama campaign. Has there been any such agreement or have they unilaterally pulled their ads?

[tfan]

Obama should do it. He should call McCain's bluff. He's not that good of a debater anyway so let the first one go. He should go to DC, with the other Dems should come up with their own Plan, a really hardline plan with lots of limits on executive compensation etc. The Republicans will stall it and all the Dems can run on that - we're trying to keep your tax dollars out of these rich bankers pockets and McCain is against us. People are so pissed off about this bailout and the Dems aren't taking advantage. The Dems are so hapless, I'm so sick of them. I would love to see my representatives come out really hard against the bailout (like I love the idea of making IBs take a credit counseling class), even if I knew it was just posturing.

[david kilmer]

"Yes. Sheer brilliance. I look forward to the media replaying the clip of Obama saying "I think the President should be able to do more than one thing at a time" over and over again and then cracking jokes about being able to walk and chew gum."

I don't have a TV, so I don't know what the media will do there -- I assume they'll try to keep it stirred up as long as possible.

Obama's quote is good, and I'm sure it will be repeated. But there are a lot of actual upsides for McCain:

1. Could give the impression that McCain is a leader and Obama isn't.

2. Could give the impression that McCain is needed on Capitol Hill and Obama isn't.

3. He'll be in the news a lot, and will probably be mentioned every time the financial crisis is.

It's a gamble.

[liberal japonicus]

Andrew Sullivan reports Barney Frank's quote

"It's the longest Hail Mary pass in the history of either football or Marys"

hah

[Ara]

My reactions, in order:

(1) What a drama queen.
(2) What power exactly does he think he has to change things, being a minority senator? Does he thinks the Dems are going to let him muscle them aside? He's not even on the appropriate committees.

[cleek]

McCain HQ, this morning: Hey, remember that thing we were gonna do for Gustav, until it crapped-out on us and didn't kill anyone? - "suspend" the campaign to prove how self-sacrificing you are? Yeah, I bet there's still some life left in that. Let's try it again!

[Warren Terra]

Obama's staff says Obama called at 8:30 to suggest a joint statement, McCain returned the call at 2:30 and they agreed in principle, pending staff work.

McCain's staff says that when Obama called at 8 he didn't leave a message, and McCain initiated the joint statement in his 2:30 call, and again an agreement was reached pending staff work.

A difference in who initiated the joint statement is pretty clearly implied, although technically Obama's staff's statement doesn't explicitly say that he left a message, and if he didn't leave one then the two camps' claims could be reconciled. Maybe Obama didn't leave a message, although it would seem weird for Obama not to leave a message, and even weirder for McCain's receptionist not to ask for one. Wouldn't McCain wonder why Obama called? Why would McCain wait six or more hours to return the call of he didn't have to think about its contents?

But note this : both campaigns' statements agree that at 2:30 the two campaigns agreed to work on a joint statement of principles for the bailout. And at 2:58 McCain's statement that he was suspending campaigning and wanted to postpone the debate broke on cable news, including a recorded statement from McCain. Meaning that McCain talked to Obama at 2:30 and then within twenty minutes issued his challenge and demands without discussing them with Obama.

McStunt, indeed.

[cleek]

but he can find time to meet with Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild.

and he met all the rest of his appointments today and is going to speak tomorrow AM at Bill Clinton's org. apparently, the crisis doesn't start until tomorrow afternoon.

[liberal japonicus]

Wouldn't McCain wonder why Obama called?

Ahhh! He must be calling to concede! Victory is at hand! Bwa-ha-ha-ha!!!

[Tony P.]

McCain is officially past it. Anybody who pretends we must take the politics out of democracy is either nuts himself, or thinks the public is.

Of course, the jury's still out on whether the public is, in fact, nuts.

--TP

[cleek]

and now McCain wants to reschedule this week's debate for next Thursday ? that's the day of the VP debate. a total coincidence, i'm sure.

McPOW FLAIL!

[Warren Terra]

McCain wants to reschedule this week's debate for ... the day of the VP debate.

EPIC FLAIL.

[Anne E]

I think this is completely cynical on McCain's part- five different layers of cynical.

(1) Suspending the campaign and ads makes sense if you realize that Obama needs his campaign events and ads much more than McCain does. Republicans have a lot of party discipline- they'll vote for McCain even if they dislike him. Obama is still selling himself to blue collar whites, Hillary voters, older voters, and Catholics, and he loses ground if he stops campaigning.

(2) McCain has more, and better funded, 527s than Obama does. McCain also has Fox News and talk radio. If the official campaign ads are suspended, McCain immediately dominates the information that voters hear.

(3) McCain voters are older, whiter, and richer, and thus more likely to vote without prompting. Every day that Obama suspends his campaign is a day that he's not building his ground game.

(4) (Most important.) Remember Josh Marshall's paradigm of the "bitch slap" (i.e. if the Republicans can portray themselves as dominating the Democrats, they win?) If Obama suspended his campaign, the voters would be treated to a visual spectacle of McCain TELLING OBAMA WHAT TO DO. Obama would look weak.

(5) And, of course, if Obama continues campaigning, he can portrayed as unpatriotic.

The fact that McCain kept his appointment with Lady de Rothschild tells me they didn't think of this gambit until late in the day.

[Fledermaus]

it's a brilliant gamble - and pure McCain.

No it's not. Not by any measure. I mean this foreign policy/strategic "expert" didn't even have a contingency plan for what he would do if Obama said "no I think we'll have the debates as planned" which would have been the obvious response.

Really what's he going to do now? Not show up? Pertend he never said that? He'd better look really really busy that day.

[KCinDC]

Letterman could be entertaining tonight.

[mjm]

Just when I think that Senator McCain can't possibly be more cynical, he pulls a stunt like this.

Incredible.

[getaclue]

The campaign is over because there WILL BE NO ELECTION.

This entire manufactured "crisis" it's the Financial Patriot Act, drawn up well in advance. The final step in Argentiniantizing the US. If it OR ANY form of bailout passes, you can start buying wheelbarrows, for the dollar will be worth less than toilet paper.

When the collapse comes, the MILITARY will be deployed on American streets to deal with the ensuing chaos. http://www.911blogger.com/node/17903

If the election is not canceled, the dominionist Princess of Alaska, every bit as big a tool as the White House's present occupant, will quickly be installed following the old man's tragic but not unexpected demise after the GOP steals a 4th national election.

You heard it here.
getaclue | 09.24.08

[EL]

"You can only be young once. But you can always be immature (Dave Barry)." Discuss.

[gil mann]

You heard it here.
getaclue | 09.24.08

Not a lot of hard & fast rules in this life, but here's one:

The people telling you to "get a clue" tend to be the very people you shouldn't go to for your clue-gathering needs.

Pretty much the same deal with "wake up."

[ThatLeftTurnInABQ]

I suppose he could ask Palin to handle it.

K-Lo, over at The Corner, is suggesting that maybe Palin should step in for McCain at the debate (while McPOW sits congress down and tells them to Cut The Bullsh!t, i presume).

and:

and now McCain wants to reschedule this week's debate for next Thursday ? that's the day of the VP debate. a total coincidence, i'm sure.

These made me think - here's what Obama should do:

Announce, unilaterally, that he (Obama) will be in DC on Friday attending to this issue of the Wall St. bailout legislation.

Nevertheless, the debate will go on as scheduled. Joe Biden will take Obama's place, showing the American people that he (Joe Biden) is ready to step in at a moments notice if something were to happen to the President. That is what the VP must be ready to do.

Obama and Biden will both state that they expect that Sarah Palin will also show up in place of John McCain, assuming she is ready for the task.

The subject of the debate will be foreign policy, as previously scheduled. When a VP has to step in for a President, they don't get to pick and choose the time or the subject at hand. They have to play the cards already dealt.

[MeDrewNotYou]

I, for one, am very disappointed in Bush's speech. No declaration of martial law whatsoever! Thanks a lot getaclue.

[MeDrewNotYou]

LeftTurn- As much as I'd like to see Obama eat Palin alive in a debate, that idea is nearly as fun, and much better politics to boot.

[Gary Farber]

"My guess is that at an early point it became evident to all parties that McCain could not speak to the economic troubles sure to be the focus of the first debate"

The first debate was switched last Thursday to being about about foreign policy.

[John Thullen]

"flailing desperation"

Yeah, maybe.

I think 51% of the American people could dig it, being desperate flailers themselves. The McCain campaign is still trying to juke Obama into losing his cool and reacting like the black guys Abbott and Costello used to feature in their lesser comedies: "Dere's a ghost, ahhhhhhh!!!!", while Lou Costello accidentally solves the crisis by accidentally getting twisted up in the ghost's bedsheet and exposing the perpetrator for all to see.

Add in an additional 2% of the American people who mistake desperate flailing on the part of McCain for the signal that "I'm gonna lower your taxes and kill a bunch of government bureaucrats" and I think you've got a working majority.

Americans are, as a class, dumbasses.

I say they buy this gambit.

McCain is going to chew the scenery in Washington like Mr McGoo mistaking the heads on Mt. Rushmore for barnacles on his yacht and reading the riot act.

You get a chain reaction of conservatives desperate flailing and pretty soon they could ruin whatever vestiges of foreign policy and the economy we have left.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

"I, for one, am very disappointed in Bush's speech."

Actually, I thought Bush's speech was fine -- and it's what a president is supposed to do in a time of crisis. Explain the situation. Seek calm.

Of course, he was a week late.

[cleek]

yeah, i didn't mind Bush tonight. it was the first time listening to him that i didn't want to throw my TV out the window. he didn't tell me anything interesting, but he wasn't obnoxious, either. he seemed almost reassuring in his calm, bland, and objective description of the situation.

given my expectations, i gotta say : well done, W. i didn't think you had it in ya.

[Nell]

The snap polls by SUSA (see Talking Points Memo) seem to show the public sees this as a desperate flail, also.

Voters understand that presidents don't get to call time-out when crises arise, and this stunt is extremely revealing of McCain's approach to crisis: flip-flops combined with abrupt and unproductive showboating.

The debate, and the campaigns, should go on as planned; I certainly expect Obama to take that approach. McCain has the choice of keeping his commitment, or having an empty chair represent him Friday night.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

"yeah, i didn't mind Bush tonight"

I get the feeling that Bush realizes that if the economic dives into a 21st Century Great Depression even this idiot realizes he will have no chance of pulling a Nixon -- i.e., rehabilitating and reshaping his image in the remaining 20 or 30 years of his life.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

"yeah, i didn't mind Bush tonight"

I get the feeling that Bush realizes that if the economy dives into a 21st Century Great Depression even this idiot realizes he will have no chance of pulling a Nixon -- i.e., rehabilitating and reshaping his image in the remaining 20 or 30 years of his life.

[MeDrewNotYou]

To be serious, I thought the Bush speech was decent, meaning great for W. I suppose if I didn't know better, I'd think, "Sure, things are bad, but we've got a plan and it won't take long before we're back on top."

So, yeah, he seemed cool and in control, despite reality.

BTFB- pulling a Nixon -- i.e., rehabilitating and reshaping his image in the remaining 20 or 30 years of his life.

I'm right in the middle of Nixonland now and I just don't see him as a person, much less an okay-ish guy. The bit that did it for me was reading the section on how he had Kissinger and Anna Chenault sabotage the Paris peace talks in time for the '68 election. Jaw-dropping moment.

[hilzoy]

I didn't watch it. I really liked this liveblogging, though

[DaveC]

Obama will be boning up for the debate with his economic advisors, Franklin Raines and Jim Johnson.

[gwangung]

Obama will be boning up for the debate with his economic advisors, Franklin Raines and Jim Johnson.

I'm disappointed in you. Usually, your research is better than this.

[Tony P.]

DaveC might do well to take Mark Kleiman's advice at the bottom of this post.

--TP

[MeDrewNotYou]

Fun link Hilzoy. Best line?

9:08 Molly just asked a good question: “Why do I get the sense he’s reading without understanding what he’s reading?”

I got that feeling too. Eerie.

[KCinDC]

I've had that feeling half the times I've seen Bush on TV over the past eight years, Drew.

[jonnybutter]

Unbelievable. If I were a Republican partisan, I'd be outraged and livid. Barney Frank's is the most succinct comment so far: McCain's stunt is '"..the longest Hail Mary pass in the history of either football or Marys."

Nice of McCain to concede six week early.

[MeDrewNotYou]

Nice of McCain to concede six week early.

The cheering on The Daily Show when Stewart said that McCain had suspended his campaign was great. And then he explained that it didn't quite mean he was dropping out.

[russell]

Add in an additional 2% of the American people who mistake desperate flailing on the part of McCain for the signal that "I'm gonna lower your taxes and kill a bunch of government bureaucrats" and I think you've got a working majority.

You forgot the 10-15% who wouldn't vote for a black man if his opponent was a dancing pig.

The debate, and the campaigns, should go on as planned

I'm with you.

Obama should state that he plans to keep his appointment on Friday. If McCain doesn't show, it's a free hour or so of prime airtime for Obama.

Obama should insist that each question be addressed both to himself and McCain. After Obama's answer, the camera should show a close up of McCain's empty chair.

Obama will be boning up for the debate with his economic advisors, Franklin Raines and Jim Johnson.

From the wiki article on Raines:

McCain says that Raines advises Obama. Raines and Obama state that he does not.

Re Johnson:

Although he was not accused of any wrongdoing and was initially defended by Obama on the grounds that he was simply an unpaid volunteer, Johnson announced he would step down from the vice-presidential vetting position on June 11, 2008 in order to avoid being a distraction to Obama's campaign.

But please, please, please let's get into a discussion of the resumes and checkered histories of the advisors to the two Presidential candidates.

I didn't watch it

Me either. I watched a movie, had a Jack on the rocks, and played some drums.

The man is irrelevant at this point. Nobody cares what he says, because he has nothing constructive to contribute. Nobody wants to be obvious about it, but everyone wants to run away from the guy as fast as they possibly can.

Seriously, when was the last time a sitting President has not attended their party's national convention? Gary, a cite?

If Bush manages to read through a prepared text without mangling the language, he gets high marks. Somebody else, in this case us, will come along, do the heavy lifting, and clean up the actual mess.

It's the story of his life.

Thanks -

[david kilmer]

"No it's not. Not by any measure. I mean this foreign policy/strategic "expert" didn't even have a contingency plan for what he would do if Obama said 'no I think we'll have the debates as planned' which would have been the obvious response."

Are you saying that that's going to hurt McCain? I seriously doubt anyone in the media will even mention that.

A brilliant gamble is not the same as a brilliant move. A brilliant gamble is something with a large potential upside at a large risk. This late in the presidential campaign, there are very few things a candidate can do that would make a big positive impression on voters. McCain found one.

[Gary Farber]

Some transcript.

I didn't see this, and I'm usually very forgiving of the sort of tongue-twisters and solecisms most people, including myself, can commonly fall into in speaking off the cuff, but, my goodness, what a farrago of twaddle.

[...] I'm all about the position that America is in and that we have to look at a $700 billion bailout.

[...]

The interesting thing in the last couple of days that I have seen is that Americans are waiting to see what John McCain will do on this proposal. They're not waiting to see what Barack Obama is going to do. Is he going to do this and see what way the political wind's blowing? They're waiting to see if John McCain will be able to see these amendments implemented in Paulson's proposal.

Couric: Why do you say that? Why are they waiting for John McCain and not Barack Obama?

Palin: He's got the track record of the leadership qualities and the pragmatism that's needed at a crisis time like this.

Couric: But polls have shown that Sen. Obama has actually gotten a boost as a result of this latest crisis, with more people feeling that he can handle the situation better than John McCain.

Palin: I'm not looking at poll numbers. What I think Americans at the end of the day are going to be able to go back and look at track records and see who's more apt to be talking about solutions and wishing for and hoping for solutions for some opportunity to change, and who's actually done it?

She's "seen that Americans are waiting to see what John McCain will do," but she's not looking at poll numbers; I guess she's reading bird entrails.

But Americans will indeed be able to see who's more apt to be talking about wishing for and hoping for solutions. And Americans will be able to see who suggests them.

And this:

[...] Couric: You've said, quote, "John McCain will reform the way Wall Street does business." Other than supporting stricter regulations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac two years ago, can you give us any more example of his leading the charge for more oversight?

Palin: I think that the example that you just cited, with his warnings two years ago about Fannie and Freddie - that, that's paramount. That's more than a heck of a lot of other senators and representatives did for us.

Couric: But he's been in Congress for 26 years. He's been chairman of the powerful Commerce Committee. And he has almost always sided with less regulation, not more.

Palin: He's also known as the maverick though, taking shots from his own party, and certainly taking shots from the other party. Trying to get people to understand what he's been talking about - the need to reform government.

Couric: But can you give me any other concrete examples? Because I know you've said Barack Obama is a lot of talk and no action. Can you give me any other examples in his 26 years of John McCain truly taking a stand on this?

Palin: I can give you examples of things that John McCain has done, that has shown his foresight, his pragmatism, and his leadership abilities. And that is what America needs today.

Couric: I'm just going to ask you one more time - not to belabor the point. Specific examples in his 26 years of pushing for more regulation.

Palin: I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you.

There is no try.

[now_what]

A brilliant gamble is something with a large potential upside at a large risk

No.

A brilliant gamble is something with a large potential upside at a small risk. Something with a large potential upside at a large risk is called a "hedge fund".

[Anne E]

It's not a brilliant gamble, but it makes a
certain amount of sense. McCain is behind, and the financial crisis can only help Obama further. So, if by suspending his campaign he has a 10% chance of reminding the American public that he's a hero, and going on to win, and a 90% chance of losing by a larger margin than he otherwise would have, that's a good bet for him.

And, of course, he can now run around saying "Obama didn't put his country first because he didn't suspend his campaign when I told him to".

[Gary Farber]

Obama's presser.

[maryQ]

ya know what, hilzoy?

If I'm ever in your fair city, I am so going to invite you out for a drink, because I'm pretty sure we'd be great friends.

Really.

I always come here for a whole lotta sanity and a little snark.

No question that responsible, intelligent bloggers like you have been doing your job so f*cking well that the MSM and the CW have finally caught up.

You, my friend, are a true patriot.

Keep up the outstanding work.

[Jeff]

The first debate was switched last Thursday to being about about foreign policy.

Do you have the stone that's carved in, Gary?

Sheesh.

Hmmmm, I wonder where von is these days....

[Hartmut]

who's more apt to be talking about solutions and wishing for and hoping for solutions for some opportunity to change, and who's actually done it

So, the Son of Cain is better at talking, wishing and hoping? And that is the important qualification for the presidency?
Nuke them both from the orbit, it's the only way to be sure!

[Jesurgislac]

Jeff: Hmmmm, I wonder where von is these days....

Now, now. Come, come. Don't be mean, we don't have to be mean.

...I was wondering the same thing, but had decided not to mention Von's name until/unless he showed up to defend his choice of President/Vice President. After all, there are plenty of Republicans who think McCain is going to be just splendid and Palin was a fine, fine choice. Why pick on Von?

[Sebastian]

I know that focusing on substance is foolhardy in cases like this, but realistically why does McCain need to suspend the campaign to do anything about the financial crisis?

Does he have some special insight into the problem that can't be duplicated by someone else?

If so, wouldn't one of the best places to exhibit that be in the debate?

[ral]

Seb, there's a clip of McCain admitting that he hadn't read the Paulson plan yet. As of Tuesday.

Maybe he had to go to Washington to get a copy because he couldn't open the e-mail attachment.

[jonnybutter]

clip of McCain admitting that he hadn't read the Paulson plan yet. As of Tuesday.

C'mon dude, the summary is three whole pages! A busy man like McCain doesn't have time to admit to having read and formed an opinion on something like that.

[Eric Martin]

My friends, as a POW, McCain wasn't permitted to read anything that was more than half a page long.

[Jeff]

The first debate was switched last Thursday to being about about foreign policy.

BTW, I've read, via Marc Ambinder, that the focus might be back on the economy. I think we'll have to wait until tomorrow if [a] the focus has been shifted, and [b] McCain shows up.

[MeDrewNotYou]

http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/25/news/economy/deal_reached/index.htm?postversion=2008092513>This is good news. For McCain!

Seriously, though, the man looks like even more of an idiot now.

However, there is the possibility that the reason a deal was reached is because McCain's maverickosity was so overwhelming that Congress sped things up to avoid an Ultimate Showdown!!!

[KCinDC]

I'd feel a lot better about it, Drew, if it started with a smaller amount to see how things go. The $700 billion figure was completely arbitrary, so why defer to it?

[Anarch]

However, there is the possibility that the reason a deal was reached is because McCain's maverickosity was so overwhelming that Congress sped things up to avoid an Ultimate Showdown!!!

Of Ultimate Destiny?

[KCinDC]

If His Maverickiness isn't a continuation of Bush, why is the White House acting as part of his campaign?

[MeDrewNotYou]

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/09/mccain-doubling-down-on-debate.html>538's take, but they're crazy about gambling, so I dunno'.

Of Ultimate Destiny?
Before the last Indiana Jones movie, my money would've been on Godzilla. 'Cuz, you know, she's a giant radioactive lizard that can destroy Tokyo. (Have you been there? It's a big city.) But now? If Indy can survive an atom bomb, he's gonna' be just fine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwBK31tC5QM>So the rest of you don't feel left out.

[Howard]

We are facing the worst economic melt down since the great depression. McCain says it should take first priority over politics. Obama says if you need me, call me, I'll be at the debate hall. Then, Obama says McCain should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. First of all, Obama has never set aside his personal ambition for the good of the country. He has no sense of priority. The economic problem is huge, will effect Americans for decades, and deserves more than a Presidential candidate's rubber stamp, or blank check. The walk and chew gum cliche is about as trite as Obama's slogans ... like 'change we can believe in'. Unlike Obama, McCain is responsible, and has genuine leadership qualities. Obama will say, or do anything to get elected. McCain puts Americans, and America above politics, and personal ambition. No Wright, no Pfleger, no Farrakhan, no Rezko, no Ayers, no mean Michelle, and NOBAMA !!!

[Gary Farber]

No facts, no cites, no substance.

[gwangung]

Obama says if you need me, call me, I'll be at the debate hall.

Liar.

We've had enough of this crap.

[russell]

Then, Obama says McCain should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time.

What part of that do you disagree with?

Thanks -

[wonkie]

Someone actually buys that crap about McCain suspending his campaign?

[gwangung]

Someone actually buys that crap about McCain suspending his campaign?

When all his campaign offices are still open, he's still taken money and he's still running ads?

[hilzoy]

I also love the idea that someone who quit a good job on (iirc) Wall Street to become a community organizer has never put country above ambition.

[Gary Farber]

So here is how McCain concluded his urgent need to be in Washington.