If McCain is going to continue with the convention theme of “Country First,” then this is a brilliant move. Here is a man suspending his own campaign for the highest office in the land because a crisis demands his attention. Plus, he is still a Senator and has Senatorial duties.

Contrast that with Obama and his “Campaign First” mentality. First, he’s willing to lose a war if it helps him win an election. Now, he’s willing to let our economy collapse if it stands in the way of his becoming President.

I don’t see how this sort of statesmanship doesn’t help McCain.

Let’s see, he’s sinking in the polls, his VP candidate is incapable of uttering a truthful sentence, when she’s allowed to talk to the media, he comes out and claims the fundamentals of the economy are sound, which turns out to be American workers, he’s been an avid proponent of deregulation, until Monday that is, and now he’s chickening out of the debate. What a surprise from the tough guy Maverick!

He is seen as the adult or he is seen as giving up on the presidency. It all depends on what happens between now and Friday, and whether it has a positive effect on the markets. If McCain can get something passed that will correct not only the crisis but also corrects the practices and regulations that caused this crisis, while at the same time Obama is just out campaigning then this will have a huge positive effect for McCain.

If nothing good comes out by Friday and Obama has held the news cycle with the meme that McCain is running scared, than you can mark this day as the day we lost the election.

It could work to McCain’s benefit, looking like the responsible statesman.

When the country is a crisis, it’s “Country First”, which ties in with his overall campaign theme. Obama would then look like just another politician by demanding the campaign continue.

However, you never want to be in the position where you look like you’re “ducking” the debate, especially when you’re coming from a position of weakness. If that’s how Obama spins it, that the “old man can’t take the heat”, etc., it could be bad. Then again, it may set expectations even higher for Obama in the debate.

What I’m worried about is if McCain goes to Washington and tries to strong arm Republicans in Congress to pass this bailout. Even if you can make the case that economically the bailout is necessary, it’s going to be politically unpopular, especially if it’s a Republican pushing it. Voters don’t like the idea of taxpayers footing the bill for Wall Street’s incompetence.

The legislation they have been able to “cobble together” has usually stunk to high heaven. I feel like Charlie Brown running towards a FB saying this, but, maybe this time it will be better.

Thats what I call really putting lipstick on a pig

McCain’s campaign is being seriously damaged by this economic crisis so they “suspend” their campaign to focus on the economy? What percent of the American people do you think are silly enough to buy that load of malarky?

McCain knows that issues that will sway undecided voters will be front and center Friday night – like his campaign manager’s close ties to Freddie Mac, as well as the statements McCain made that at least appear on the surface to be untrue regarding those ties.

Ben Smith on Politico.com said clearly what we all know, “But in terms of the timing of this move: The only thing that’s changed in the last 48 hours is the public polling.”

It could work to McCain’s benefit, looking like the responsible statesman.

When the country is a crisis, it’s “Country First”, which ties in with his overall campaign theme. Obama would then look like just another politician by demanding the campaign continue.

However, you never want to be in the position where you look like you’re “ducking” the debate, especially when you’re coming from a position of weakness. If that’s how Obama spins it, that the “old man can’t take the heat”, etc., it could be bad. Then again, it may set expectations even higher for Obama in the debate.

What I’m worried about is if McCain goes to Washington and tries to strong arm Republicans in Congress to pass this bailout. Even if you can make the case that economically the bailout is necessary, it’s going to be politically unpopular, especially if it’s a Republican pushing it. Voters don’t like the idea of taxpayers footing the bill for Wall Street’s incompetence.

The country is sitting on the edge of a catastrophe. Something has to be done to prevent financial markets from freezing up (Imagine a car engine running at full speed without a drop of oil).

I don’t know if the severity of the problem is understood by Main Street. I think they may well be willing to blame Bush/Repubs and simply pull the lever for Dems. McCain is fighting against that perception.

Honestly, I dont’ know how McCain’s move will play out. It could be positive for the country and disastrous for his campaign.

Sen Obama absolutely must cancel the debate and join Sen McCain in DC.

If he doesn’t:
1. Sen McCain looks like the true country first leader.
2. Gov Palin will take Sen McCain’s place in the debate. In doing so, she will remove all doubt that she CAN INDEED step in as President if the unthinkable occurs.
3. He runs the risk of a McCain-Clinton bipartisan agreement on the financial mess, and there would be the checkmate.

I love that wily old aviator.

If you agree to put things on hold and go to DC to work out a solution, you look like you are following McCain’s lead – ie McCain is the real leader.

If you tee off on McCain that he is ducking the debate, you look more like you care about your campaign than the country.

If you say that there is nothing happening that is such a big deal that the campaign/debate needs to be put on hold, then you look out of touch.

I guess if I’m Obama, I tee off on McCain that he’s playing games, ducking the debate, etc and hope that I win the news cycle. Maybe with a little help from his MSM friends he will pull that off. Obviously a lot depends on what McCain actually says and does for the next two days.

… but he shouldn’t say he’s suspending his campaign. He’s staying in DC and doing his job in the Senate, but that shouldn’t keep him from doing interviews, running TV and radio ads, or keep Gov. Palin and others from campaigning on his behalf.

I like McCain and supported him all through the primaries.

Lately, though, I think he’s made a few mistakes. He should be defending his name and engaging his attackers rather than running back to the Senate or calling for inexplicable hirings and firings.

All of these false charges of culpability for the crisis leveled by democrats will sink in unless McCain highlights the fact that he was the one arguing against Fannie/Freddy in 2005.

This just makes McCain look weak just when he should look strong. He put the ball in Obama’s court and gave Obama a chance to look presidential.

They should have the debates, but debate the economy so McCain can defend himself.

Obama just basically said that this problem is above partisan politics, which makes McCain look bad for attacking him. Obama also is twisting this to make it seem that McCain can’t handle the pressure…

Bad bad bad for McCain. Obama can say McCain’s scared.

Darn.

…to do this. Personally, I’m DYING for the debates to begin so McCain can take Obama to the woodshed for all America to see. Obama knows he will have a hard time in a debate – that’s why he’s taking 3 days to prepare, ie. memorize what Axlerod writes.

Yes, McCain has a great opportunity to show leadership on this, but suspending his campaign is NOT the answer. Election Day is coming whether we are ready for it or not.

McCain is presenting the position that politics as usual is not a viable solution to the problem and he is appearing to take a leadership position.

This will play well to the people who are looking to Washington for answers as to the why and how this economic (forgive me) malaise can be rectified.

Seems to me they have a lot of differences to hammer out these days. Suggested topics:

(1) Coal.
(2) Obama’s attacks on McCain’s war injuries.
(3) Whether Biden should be the VP (Obama for, Biden against).

I’d watch this.

but it seems pretty obvious that Obama hopes his foreign policy debate will be buried in economy crisis controversy. He wants to get it over with and forgotten about.

My long comment didn’t post, so I’ll try again.

Basically I think this is a mistake for McCain. It makes him look overwhelmed and gives Obama the chance to look like a calm multitasker.

This has been a very disappointing week. McCain should be setting the record straight and defending himself.

Now it looks like he’s being dragged into the debate.

Bad bad bad.

He just had a press conference where he made a point of saying several times that he initiated the calls.

He just doesn’t understand what it means to stop the politics.

but it seems pretty obvious that Obama hopes his foreign policy debate will be buried in economy crisis controversy. He wants to get it over with and forgotten about.

I think it’s a brilliant move. Goes along with his “Country First” theme.

I’ve been wondering all week why one or both candidates weren’t doing this. Considering that our country is teetering on another depression, what an opportune time for a prospective leader to do something constructive like, well, lead. The fact that they were both hired and are paid as U.S. Senators says something.

As for the debate, bring it. There’s no reason not to debate. Take an hour or 2 and debate in Washington if needed. I know the “straight talk express” is long dead and may she rest in peace. The country is wanting to hear a debate. We deserve it.

If Obama had suggested delaying the debate for the sake of the economy, would we all be calling it a “responsible action,” or would we be denouncing it as a “crass, cowardly political stunt?”

I’m not trying to score partisan points, here. I just want us all to consider what our reactions would be if the situation were reversed.

Obama has said he wants the debate to go on. He said he thinks it unnecessary to suspend the campaign to address the problem. If anyone’s running scared it’s Obama. He’s spent the last 19 months running for President instead of being an elected member of the US Senate. Running for President is all he knows how to do. If he goes to Washington it will only highlight the fact that he doesn’t have a clue. It’s hard to imagine that the nominee for the Democrat party won’t even be in Washington to vote on the most important legislation to come down the pike in nearly a century.
Obama=Fail.

From a weak position. The end of his campaign starts here.

Sorry, it’s the truth. And yes, I’ve been a member for less than 10 minutes.

Here is a video I created around the McCain fight speech.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPOCGewHRo0

Click on the “high quality” just below the video to see the better version.

It’s obvious that McCain is a leader we can count on.

Barry’s the one preaching change, but McCain is out there taking risks. And this move has the added advantage of being the right thing to do. Obama has been one of the laziest Senators in recent history, and the last thing he wants is to get dragged back into the Senate during the middle of an economic crisis. He’d rather be campaigning than doing his job, but now he’s lost that option.

The debate issue is an easy one to respond to. McCain can simply say that after the crisis is over, he will renew his call for weekly townhall debates, from now until Election Day. McCain is not afraid of debates – he wants them. Barry is an idiot without a teleprompter.

From the AP:

A senior McCain adviser, Mark Salter, said the campaign would suspend all advertising and campaign events until a workable deal is reached on the bailout proposal — but only if the Obama campaign agrees to do the same.

Bold mine, of course. Can I breathe a sigh of relief here?

1. Mccain takes lead(percieved or real) financial crisis on most everyone’s minds over foreign policy.

2. Congressional GOP most likely gives him places to take credibility for a solution as some gop officeholders will need coattails from him to keep their office or need him campaigning from a strong position in their state.

3. Obama looks like the politician so far in this issue and mccain like the statesman.

4. While mccain sits in DC, Palin may be out rallying somewhere and she’s been the star for the ticket.

anyone thinking mccain must be weak avoiding a foreign polcy debate, really doesnt know jack about mccain.

The Obama team is already on the defensive about this. They’re trying to say the debate will go on, and transparently trying to steal initiative by saying they made a phone call to McCain earlier in the day.

McCain will NOT look like he’s ducking the debate for the simple reason – let the o-bots repeat after me – “McCain offered 10 town-hall debates. Obama refused them. McCain offered 10 town-hall debates. Obama refused them…”

If there’s no deal in the Senate by Friday night the debate won’t happen, whether Obama likes it or not. But how cool is it that McCain gets to dictate the terms.

Obama was cloistered and doing a 3-day “preparation” for the debate, clearly trying to muster some mojo. McCain has interrupted his rhythm and gotten inside his head, again.

On the bailout plan in general: I dislike the move but it seems that in terms of guaranteeing liquidity there’s no way to avoid something like this, or risk a really sharp down-turn (worse than just “market discipline”).

It’s absolutely true that McCain tried to warn people about these risks 2-3 years ago and Democrats blocked any effort to reform the two FM’s while Obama raked in the cash (more than any other Senator except Dodd). That needs to be repeated ad infinitum. If legilators are at fault for this government-mandated mess, Obama is near the front of that line, McCain well back in the pack.

I have yet to read the other replies and may change my mind after learning more.

I think McCain blinked first. This will now be the second time he has suspended his campaign. I think it is high time he campaigns harder, more clearly, and more forcefully. I also think the idea of postponing the debate is kind of like the kid who hopes for a snow day before the big test. Whatever McCain’s reasons, it just does not come off as tough or as leadership.

The majortity of Repubs and Dems say they need to come together in a bipartisan fashion. What exactly does that mean? We will give you your stuff if you give us our stuff? This is just Congressmen haggling over the power of the purse. And let’s not forget all the pet programs and attempts to socialize this country further.

The last thing we need is a bunch of Congressmen acting in a bipartisan way to spend our money and reduce our freedom. What we need now IS A DEBATE! We need a debate about whether this is going to be a free market economy or not. We don’t need one Repub pork barreller acting bipartisan with another Democrat porkbarreller. We need the government out of the free market as much as possible. More transparency, fine, that can be handled by the exchanges, but this is turning into a fiasco, and McCain seems to me to be acting very strangely lately.

I have yet to read the other replies and may change my mind after learning more.

I think McCain blinked first. This will now be the second time he has suspended his campaign. I think it is high time he campaigns harder, more clearly, and more forcefully. I also think the idea of postponing the debate is kind of like the kid who hopes for a snow day before the big test. Whatever McCain’s reasons, it just does not come off as tough or as leadership.

The majortity of Repubs and Dems say they need to come together in a bipartisan fashion. What exactly does that mean? We will give you your stuff if you give us our stuff? This is just Congressmen haggling over the power of the purse. And let’s not forget all the pet programs and attempts to socialize this country further.

The last thing we need is a bunch of Congressmen acting in a bipartisan way to spend our money and reduce our freedom. What we need now IS A DEBATE! We need a debate about whether this is going to be a free market economy or not. We don’t need one Repub pork barreller acting bipartisan with another Democrat porkbarreller. We need the government out of the free market as much as possible. More transparency, fine, that can be handled by the exchanges, but this is turning into a fiasco, and McCain seems to me to be acting very strangely lately.

I have yet to read the other replies and may change my mind after learning more.

I think McCain blinked first. This will now be the second time he has suspended his campaign. I think it is high time he campaigns harder, more clearly, and more forcefully. I also think the idea of postponing the debate is kind of like the kid who hopes for a snow day before the big test. Whatever McCain’s reasons, it just does not come off as tough or as leadership.

The majortity of Repubs and Dems say they need to come together in a bipartisan fashion. What exactly does that mean? We will give you your stuff if you give us our stuff? This is just Congressmen haggling over the power of the purse. And let’s not forget all the pet programs and attempts to socialize this country further.

The last thing we need is a bunch of Congressmen acting in a bipartisan way to spend our money and reduce our freedom. What we need now IS A DEBATE! We need a debate about whether this is going to be a free market economy or not. We don’t need one Repub pork barreller acting bipartisan with another Democrat porkbarreller. We need the government out of the free market as much as possible. More transparency, fine, that can be handled by the exchanges, but this is turning into a fiasco, and McCain seems to me to be acting very strangely lately.

…will be shrieking about how The Bush/McCain Administration™ churned up this financial crisis to benefit the McCain campaign.

Guaranteed.

He can vote ‘PRESENT’ from anywhere in the darn country…

The legislation they have been able to “cobble together” has usually stunk to high heaven. I feel like Charlie Brown running towards a FB saying this, but, maybe this time it will be better.

and our President throwing dirt on our collective graves….

I’m 4 fingers into a fresh bottle of JWB.
I’ll puke later.

I apologize.

I’m still so angry I could bite nails in half.

Mark this day ladies and gentlemen.
You’ll remember why later.

I apologize.

I’m still so angry I could bite nails in half.

Mark this day ladies and gentlemen.
A very bad day indeed.

I hope I am wrong but I think most Americans want this debate and a President has to be able to multi task in great ways and I think it only showcases McCain in bad light

It shows McCain willing to risk his campaign by putting Country First instead of himself just as he did for the troop surge which has worked. Bad for Obama and the democrats because it could lead to someone pointing out in front of the national media how the democrats and Obama where directly responsible for this financial crisis happenening and how many of Obama’s campaign advisors where actually involved in making it happen and this time the national liberal media wouldn’t be able to cover up or ignore it like they have been doing for Obama and that means the other democrats will also be shown to be responsible at the same time as him. Thats probably the biggest reason the democrats don’t want McCain or Obama anywhere near Washington.
Democratic Guilt