They have bigger fish to fry... they should continue with the planned debate. Let the voters decide on what they see.

Ha. But he's not even on the committee that will be drafting the legislation. He's got no input on this.

Then why did Senator Obama call Senator McCain to ask if he would join him in outlining their shared principles and conditions for the Treasury proposal so that together they could get Congress and the White House to pass the proposal?

Obama called Senator McCain to ask him if he would join in issuing a joint statement outlining shared principles, not shut down and write the whole damn thing. Neither are in a position of economic leadership. Not even close.

But McCain knows he cannot win a debate. He figures he's got a 50/50 shot of winning a contest of meaningless gestures to the masses.

EDIT: Just read that deal on the "bail out" is 98% done. Treasury has capitulated on almost every point. It is circulating NOW. No need to miss a debate!

Speculation by Democrats is, a deal will be done in the next 48HRs. McCain knows this so he goes to Washington for a day or two, does really nothing, then tries to take credit for helping both sides get it done.

Which would amount to nothing more than a glorified photo-op, much like Obama's Europe/Middle-East tour earlier this summer.

That said, with Bush's address tonight asking both to come to the White House, I think Obama if he does do that tomorrow would get.....clemency in that its the President, not the Republican incumbent, asking him to help join in this bi-partisan moment, and not simply Obama's rival.

BTW, doesn't this make McCain look like a fucking pussy now considering he wanted Friday's debate canceled? If that bill is 98% done, as the channels and Saladbar claim it is....and Obama/McCain tomorrow at White House being a glorified photo-op...

Did McCain over-react?

I guess the McCain camp feels McCain is sliding in the polls everyday, and has little chance of beating Obama one on one in the debates, so they're pulling another "Palin" to try and change the game again.

It's called a photo-op, and if McCain had gone through with Obama's proposal, it would have helped that Obama campaign, thus McCain flipped it around today...



Yeah, and apparently it backfired. In a poll released hours after McCain's decision, 86% of Americans think the Debate on Friday Should Go On as Scheduled, with only 10% agreeing with McCain.

To be specific, 50% want the debate on-time, while 36% want that planned-debate on Foreign Policy to be shifted to the Economy.

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReportUC.aspx?g=54d651a7-a62b-4420-bb32-9dd6b2df8c02

Either way, McCain tonight looked and acted to me like a knee-jerk pussy, especially if that bailout gets passed/signed tomorrow (which it WILL).

Sometimes I wonder (lately) if perhaps McCain really doesn't want to win. While true, it' still neck and neck, some of his gaffes have been doozies. Maybe he just figures, I don't need this?

I read on Huffingto Post (FWIW) that McCain is asking to cancel/postpone the VP debate as well.

But, I agree wih SC, McCain's coming off as looking a little scared. Look, this debate on "foreign policy" is suppose to be in McCain's realm of knowledge, his ballpark, so why weasle out of that one? Although I did hear commentators say, with this financial crisis looming that even a foreign policy debate can be easily connected to economy, especially for a skilled politician.

TIS

No, not in his mind. He was hoping for more time so he could get coached on the economy.

Zing!

Went the Strings of my heart... wait, this isn't the lyrics game

He is trying to win. McCain only benefits by having as few debates as possible and, most especially, allowing Palin to speak as little as possible. Not debating HURTS Obama. McCain on the spot will have to explain why his campaign chief was being a lobbyist for Freddy Mac up until last month, why now he wants to vote on a bill--something he hasn't done in over a year despite being paid to do so, explain why he approved of near total deregulation for several decades, etc.... An unquestioned McCain can win.

Hi there SB, how are you??? How's everything in the Bay area?


So, am I hearing that there is a "debate commission" (or something of the sort). What happens if McCain wants to postpone and Obama does not????? IMHO there is no "real" reason to postpone. Are there any guidelines?


TIS

The Commission on Presidential Debates was set up in the late 80s. It is a non-profit group. A couple of its members are Caroline Kennedy and Alan Simpson.

There WILL be debates.

If McCain doesnt go through with the debate on friday, after the bailout is passed tomorrow...

Well, "soft" is the word.

Well, now I know why McCain wants to cancel next week's VP debate in favor of this friday's debate happening there:



Though this is my favorite exchange at the end, Couric asking Palin about McCain's "regulation" career:

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.

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

*Jaw Drops*

Is this the tough gal that Appleonya has praised?

I was just about to post this clip!

....Actually, I have the short version.

Well, the Obama campaign has released a timeline of previous Presidential debates that have gone on despite occuring under a "Crisis"...

1960 DEBATES
Sep 26, 1960
Soviets announce ready to put first astronaut into space
Oct 7, 1960
Cuba accuses US of links to invasion
Pentagon curbs spending in light of trade imbalance
Oct 13, 1960
KRUSHCHEV BANGS SHOE ON DESK
Bomb injures 33 in Times Square in 3rd explosion in 11 days
US embargo on Cuba announced
Oct 21, 1960
KRUSHCHEV SAYS USSR HAS NUCLEAR SUBS
Gold price problems in world markets

1976 DEBATES
Sep 23, 1976
SEC probing US Steel, including Gerald Ford Congressional activities
Oct 06, 1976
Chinese nuke tests fallout on US soil
Oct 22, 1976
Swine flu vaccine leads the news
Oct 15, 1976 (VP)
Castro says CIA involved in crash of airliner of Barbados, won’t renew anti-hijack agreement with US.
Watergate: no investigation of Ford blocking probe

1980 DEBATES
Sep 21, 1980
Iran/Iraq war developments, including US role
Cutoff of rail access for West Germany to West Berlin.
Follow-up on Titan II Missile explosion earlier in week
Oct 28, 1980
Iranian parliament resumes debate on US hostages. Questions of arms to Saudi Arabia from US
Record loss for car company from Ford

1984 DEBATES
Oct 07, 1984
Space shuttle Challenger difficulties in orbit
Oct 21, 1984
El Salvador reports CIA agents killed in plane crash
Oct 11, 1984 (VP)
Chief Justice Burger blocking abortion for retarded, dead, blind rape victim
Threats confirmed of plan to crash plane into US embassy in Middle East

1988 DEBATES
Sep 25, 1988
Oct 13, 1988
New stats on growing trade deficit
Oct 05, 1988 (VP)
US hostages in Lebanon
Elections/violence in Chile

1992 DEBATES
Oct 11, 1992
Reemergence of tuberculosis
Oct 15, 1992
Oct 19, 1992
Oct 13, 1992 (VP)

2000 DEBATES
Oct 3, 2000
Oct 11, 2000
Middle East violence erupts
Oct 17, 2000
Debate goes in the aftermath of the sudden death of Senator Mel Carnahan
Attack of USS Cole occurred 5 days earlier
Oct 5, 2000 (VP)
Middle East peace talks fall apart

2004 DEBATES
Sep 30, 2004
“North Korea has said it has turned plutonium from 8,000 spent fuel rods into nuclear weapons.” [BBC, 9/28/04]
Fannie Mae Agreed To ‘Major Changes’ In Its Accounting And Management Practices. [New York Times, 9/28/04]
Oct 8, 2004
Oct 13, 2004
Oct 5, 2004 (VP)

http://thepage.time.com/obama-campaign-release-on-debate-day-history/

Hadn't heard that yet RR. Interesting. Not surprised that Obama did his research.

Although, I can't claim I know the entire story as I was kind of young, I do remember seeing a pictue of Kruschev banging hoe on the desk. Wow!! Talk about ancient news. He always scared me for some reason (I mean just the looks of him ).



TIS

I don't know about where you guys live but here I'm not seeing Obama/McCain signs in front yards. With the Bush/Kerry election I seen yard signs all over the place.

Mig,

I noticed that too. I have seen signs for some local officials but none for either Obama or McCain. Of course I can't say I am looking for them, but still it is odd.

I can't believe it'because nobody is paying attention. I mean this is a historic election in several ways.


I know California is traditionally a Blue state, and that Obama isn't really even campaigning here, but I have seen very very few political ads compared to the last election from either candidate.


TIS

We need a wet winter very much in the Bay Area!!

Here is a good article about what is going on with the Presidential debates and how the McCain camp is unprepared and protecting Palin:
Pack on debates

Pretty bad if you look weak when interviewed by a "hard hitting journalist" <sarcasm> like Couric.

Anyone see Letterman rip McCain last night for canceling at the last minute? Wow. I don't think he'll be back on anytime soon. I'll have to find some video.

I saw it, Lou. I was up late anyway. I drank two bottle of wine and still couldn't sleep because of the Mets. Anyway, it was hysterical.

Well, that wasn't too hard to find:

I bet Senator McCain will have a hard time sitting after that spanking!

I don't know who is advising Senator McCain right now, but I have to think that it's a complete idiot. First, picking an obscure and inexperienced person who can't deliver a single swing state as the VP candidate, and then suspending the campaign?? What was he thinking? Or was he?? I understand that he wanted to shift that focus away from the polls and look like he was on top of the economic crisis, but my oh my! That just didn't happen, did it??

Apparently the congress has reached some kind of compromise on the bailout, so I guess McCain can un-suspend his campaign.

Here's the full Letterman version: