Fate of debate decided today?

McCain is just being himself,he is not prepareed to debate,and has found a way toget more time to prepare.I hope there is an empty seat,because that is all we will get if he is elected.

As a lifelong Democrat, I think McCain deserves the credit here. If my house was in crisis, I would stop what I was doing and try to fix it, not half fix it. The debates are important, but the economy at this point is much more important. Clinton hit it on the nose years ago when he had the slogan "It's The Economy, Stupid".

McCain," Mr. aMErica FIRST", is playing politics again. Wouldn't it serve the people of this country better if the debate went on, changing the topic to the economy and the bailout? This way the people can maybe get a fuller understanding of the issues and the candidates views? Instead he's trying to avoid any question about it tomorrow night and painting Obama as the politician. Give us a break John! The maverick is shooting from the hip once again. America, be careful what you ask for... you might get it!

McCain like stunt, like his VP pick Palin. He is a gutter politician. Like Bush. Its a dangerous trait for our presidency.

Let me take a guess - McCain wil take credit for something that will happen without him. Sounds like the G.I. Bill all over again to me. McCain took credit for that as well,even though he voted against it. This is becoming a joke.

I think McCain would risk EVERYTHING. I don't like the risks he takes. He's too impulsive. I don't like getting these big surprises at every twist and turn. The man and his running mate are like ticking bombs.... ready to blow but nobody really knows when. McCain is a dangerous man. He certainly doesn't need to be in the White House.

I rather hope he is a no-show at the debate. He is letting his country down by keeping us in this suspense. If he doesn't show, then Obama can address the country in a presidential manner and give us some direction. McCain has no direction, he blows whichever way the wind tells him.

What a political stunt by McCain, and a flat out lie. He said he was rushing back to D.C., but instead went on an interview with Katie Couric, then taped a show with Racheal Ray where he helped her make veal piccata.....NICE! Exactly how does veal solve our financial crisis, Mr McCain?

This is really sad. McCain returns to Washington because there is a serious national situation and Obama wants to talk and talk and talk. McCain had to drag his ass to Washington. And then Bush playing fairy fascist godmother on the tube on a deal that has zero over site and Obama wants to debate about foreign affairs. The time for talk is over.

If John McCain does not have the debate then maybe he should just drop out of the race for president. If he can not handle a financial crisis and still have a debate on issues of foreign affairs at the same time then maybe he should not be president.
Our Sons and Daughters can not suspend their duties in Iraq and Afganastan
We did not suspend the debates during WWII
We did not suspend the presidential race for The Civil War.

Every news source, other than the McCain campaign itself, indicates an extremely bipartisan approach to solving this problem. McCain serves no purpose here, other than winning a news cycle.

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!

If McCain really wants the to run from this debate, I think they should have Palin show up instead. If she is ready to lead the nation if something happens to him, she should be able to debate. Barack is showing leadership in this time of crisis - not playing a game of chicken like McCain.

McCain started the game.
What a desperate politcal move!!

McCain doesn't even sit on any committess that are dealing with this problem.
Also, McCain isn't helping the situation by drawing attention to himself.
Remember Country first. NOT!! Campaign First is more like it

In order to arrange this summit , substantive negotiations that appear to be moving forward have to be suspended. So McCain is in effect delaying the
resolution to this economic fiasco.

Please let the debates happen. What I need now is reassurance that a future president can participate in a debate that the American people have been hungering for . . . and at the same time attend to the critical business of the state. Both tasks are important to us. If McCain is too old to multi-task on the crucial issues of our times, he is too old to be our president!

The bottom line is this: it's fine if McCain wants to go to Washington to cast his vote on the bailout package, he should, and so should Obama. If the two candidates can lend a hand getting the bailout resolved, that's good too.

But neither candidate will play a leadership role in the bailout; there's a vast team working on it and ther bailout package is nearly complete.

McCain doesn't need to "suspend his campaign" to go cast his vote. That part is pure grandstand, a "look at me the great leader" political ploy.

If McCain hadn't made foolish and rash grandstand plays before this one, we might have bought it as a selfless act. But after his blustery, self-serving reaction to the Georgia/Russia conflict, and his reckless, self-serving choice of Palin, we see this "suspend the campaign" move as a political ploy.

McCain is politicizing the economy crisis for his own gain. Pretty obvious, and we aren't fooled.

More of the same from John McShame

John McLame says, “I don’t know much about the economy, I still need to be educated”

“It would be acceptable if we had to stay in Iraq for another 100 years.”

We need to “bomb, bomb, and bomb Iran”

“I have voted with Bush 90% of the time because he has been right 90% of the time”

Sarah Failin says,

“I have foreign policy experience because you can see Russia from Alaska and I went to Mexico on vacation once.”

“I welcome any investigation into my past because I have nothing to hide, oh never mind I will not meet with any investigators for any reason ever.”

She believes the Bush Doctrine is a “World View” hahaha

She says she said “No Thanks” for the Bridge to nowhere when she was actually the one who got it approved

She says we may have to go to war WITH RUSSIA

She decreased her own responsibilities when she was the mayor of a town small enough to be run by a fifth grader

If it wasn't the economic crisis, it would of been something else. His immediate presence would have been needed in TX to deal with the effects of Ike or he would have been needed at the opening of a KFC in CA or something equally critical.

The debate should not be canceled or rescheduled.The debate is part of the democratic election process and it is FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. It is for me. It makes no sense to delay. Any delay is an afront to the American people- it is an afront to me. I am offended. Every presidential candidate- even in times of crisis- can make the debates. Mr. McCain can fly out for a 2 hr debate. It is easy to do and if he can't do it, he should give up his handlers for nurse aides. He should be able to handle more than one thing at a time. What is wrong with Mr. McCain? Mr. McCain and his Republican handlers are gaming our election process. His dishonesty and moral decay is becoming more acute and darker. This is not a game. It is the presidency. Mr. McCain is not a warrier and has disintigrated before us. I will not stand for it.

McCain is scared. He's losing and ashamed for listening to his handlers and becoming Bush II. Why does Palin have to stop campaigning? C'mon John, be a man and stand up to the competition!

FACING a postconvention fall in the polls, John McCain once again reshaped the dimensions of the race by suspending his campaign and calling for postponement of tomorrow's debate.

This bold move could have an impact on the race akin to McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate. Defensively, McCain had to act to stop the fall in his poll numbers.

Offensively, he has placed himself at the epicenter of the only issue on the national agenda - proactive action to stop a total international financial collapse.

Obama's response to McCain's initiative is lame. As with his initial reaction to Sarah Palin, Obama has miscalculated. While he tries to spin McCain's move as a mere response to his initiative, it was the Republican who first issued the call for a suspension of the campaigns.

Both McCain and Obama will now go to Washington. McCain on his own initiative. Obama as a result of the president's call for an economic summit.

But it is McCain who will play the proactive role. Obama will come to Washington, but will keep one foot outside the Beltway.

Even though the president has called both candidates to Washington to save the country, Obama continues to campaign. Politics as usual.

He doesn't want to cancel the debate. He would debate while the markets burn.

McCain is going to work while Obama is phoning it in.

Oddly, McCain and Obama agree on the bailout package. But it is only McCain who can pass the bill. Only McCain can deliver the administration and the Republicans.

McCain will be at the center of the process, managing it through to success while Obama lingers on the outskirts, irrelevant and uninvolved.

McCain will pass Barack Obama's bill (which parallels his own proposals), and will get the credit for it.

There are compelling reasons why McCain may be saving his campaign by this bold move.

McCain's entry into the legislative foray personalizes the economy issue.

As long as McCain stayed away from Washington, it was the Democrats against the Republicans. Polls give the Democrats the edge. But voters trust McCain personally more than they trust Obama to manage his way out of a crisis.

By showing up in Washington, McCain makes the issue personal, not partisan.

And the rescue legislation will pass. Washington has no alternative but to act. And it probably will work. The markets will calm down. The bailout legislation will have done it.

Including the Democratic amendments, it will become a fairly popular piece of legislation and it will have been McCain's bill. Obama can claim authorship, but it will have been McCain who will have brought the Administration into line.

Once the bill is passed, McCain will have the credentials to go on the offensive and warn of the impact of Obama's tax increases on the recovery.

Had McCain not acted, Republican opposition to big government might have doomed the economy and destroyed Republican hopes.

By going to Washington, McCain makes it imperative that the Republicans pass the legislation. His presence makes it an issue of party survival in a way that lame duck Bush could never do.

As Woody Allen said "half of life is just showing up."

- NY Post 9/25/08

I am a political independent who admires McCain's decision to suspend campaigning and go to Washington to help save our teetering economy. "A political stunt?" That's a non-comment; everything McCain and Obama do between now and Nov. 4 sends a political message, so that is a given. "Afraid to debate Obama?" That's absurd. McCain is the one who wanted to have multiple townhall meetings with Obama, but Obama refused. Obama is the one who does best with scripted speeches, and McCain is the one who shines in extemporaneous situations. McCain handled himself particularly well in his first "debate" with Obama at Rick Warren's church.

John McCain is a four-term senator and one of our nation's top leaders -- and at this critical time, he belongs in Washington. Obama is the one who is running scared -- afraid to get involved or even offer much in the way of an opinion regarding the economic mess, and using his campaign as an excuse.

McCain is lost, he knows the people see through his stunt. This smells like something Bush would do. Listen, McCain is not on any of these committees that are working on this and all he will do is make a mess of it trying to get a photo op. I just wish there was some way to impeach Bush today and get Obama in there now!!!!!!

It will never cease to amaze me how gullible the American public can be. McCain does not need to be in Washington. He is not an expert on economics. Anyone with a brain knows that. What could he possibly contrbute to the negotiations other than his physical presence? Nothing! It's a photo op and nothing else. Nothing else. Now he is trying to push the Presidential debate back to replace the one and only VP debate because he has realized neither he nor his running mate are prepared. Palin never will be. Wake up people! It is the biggest Hail Mary on record. Get a grip people. Get a grip.

Anyone who doesn't see this as a stunt is blind. McCain is getting thumped in the polls because if he gets his hands on the economy we'll all be in bread lines getting our daily food rations. So he tried to take a position of "HEY GUYS LOOK AT ME I CARE MORE ABOUT THE ECONOMY THAN OBAMA ZOMG". McCain's presence isn't needed; neither Obama or McCain are economists. But they are both Presidential candidates, and need to take that job seriously.

I think Obama should show up. The city of Oxford and the University of Mississippi have spent around 5 million dollars in preparation for this. McCain is showing his disrepect for other people's money. And is there really a crisis? Or are we being told that to seperate us from our money?

OK folks. Why is one Senator being criticized for performing his job, as elected by the citizens and the other being hailed as a hero for not? Yes, everyone is going to have a different view on this (McCain is scared, Obama has memorized his lines, etc.), however, McCain and Obama are still senators, right? Don't they have jobs to do in Washington before trying to get their next job? Where is the responsibility of their current position?

Let me draw this parallel: Does the Fire Chief keep working to become mayor if the town is burning down?

I think McPlain is out of breath! Let Palin bring him to life!

McCain's recipe for "bipartisan":

1. Do the first thing that comes into your head

2. Call everyone else partisan

3. Throw a barbecue for the press.

Not actually the worst recipe for a senator. For a president, a disaster.

It's all great fun. Run a circus act while the Bush boys steal a trillion dollars from us. A circus for the peasants. First the Enron con, then phoney war in Iraq, then the housing rip off, then driving up the price of gas, and now a big show to instill fear to set the stage for the largest theft in history. McCain is just part of the diversion. Ge he can help steal the money while pretending to take the high road and avoid disastrous debate all at the same time. Had enough of the Bush way of doing things yet?

the debate topic can easily be changed to the economy. the modirator has already been prepping for economic questions, so why dodge the debate?

the best way to calm people is to talk to 100 million viewers of the debate about what you expect to see from this bailout and what your plan is to fix the economy.

even if he insisted on NOT attending, why wouldn't he send his VP to represent him in the debates, or to continue campaigning for him? she is obviously not ready in his eyes.

in either case, this is a very stupid move for mccain.

Looks like Obama is up to his old tricks again. Agree to something in private, then back out and shoot the opponent in public for taking a stand. Nice work, this is the man who will lead the country to change, change like 9/11.

Its a crassly political move by McCain, and it just might work. It avoids the debates, which no one expects McCain to do well in, while giving the appearance that he puts the American citizenry first.

Of course, his voting record through the years has always been to vote against anything that is good for anyone with an annual income less than a quarter million.

Broaden the debate to include how the economy and the current crisis effects foreign policy. Whatever. But get these two "leaders" on the stage. I find it amazing that people are actually listening to BUSH as he says we *must* have a quick bail out., BERNACKE (sp?) from the "Federal" Reserve (a reminder that the Federal Reserve is not a government entity!), and Paulson try to shove down our throat the "brilliant" idea of a plan with no regulation and no oversight. Please have McCain and Obama debate this and explain to me why it is important and right for our economy. They can't. So McCain (republican "maverick") is going to avoid the whole issue by suspending his campaign. Definitely not wanting to be held accountable! More people should have listened to and voted for Ron Paul.

the candidates are not playing games, one candidate, John McCain is. This is the silliest thing I have heard him do yet in this campaign. Why does the writer tar Obama with the same brush? A presidential campaign is serious business too, you don't put it on "pause" because of a current crisis. We all know that, as does Senator mccain.

I commend McCain for trying to do the right thing. Exactly what we need from a president. Someone who doesn't just run their mouth and gets nothing done. McCain is not running from the debate he simply wants to delay it a couple days to get this huge crisis under control. Get a clue Obama sheeples.I'll take the maverick over a say a lot and do nothing Obama ! You go John McCain!!!Keep proving your the hero and leader we all desperately need!!!

I for one would like to see who is going to be overseeing the bailout plan in a few months, and what is their take on the controls and safeguards they will put to make sure it doesn't fall apart after the election. Snides about both candidates aside, I think they owe it to us to speak in front of the American people and present themselves and their ideas as clearly as they can.
I think after stating their agreed position with respect to the bailout, being in Washington doesn't help anyone pass anything faster. If anything, it might boggle the whole process down in stupid bickering. Besides, even if they are both indispensable - what, they can't express their ideas over the phone?If they need to be there to vote, then the debate should be pushed a day later, at most.

I can understand why Obama is not suspending his campaign to join the debate. I f it comes down to a vote, he would most likely vote "present" just like most of his other votes in the senate.

I think they should change the topic of the debate to the economic crisis, and then both candidates should attend at this crucial time when the American people need to understand how both would intend to steer the country in the coming 4 years. Bailing on the debate at this point is not "putting country first" because it neglects to provide Americans with an opportunity to understand their positions, and make a balanced decision about who is more ready to lead during a national crisis. I agree that the president should be able to multi-task - vote on important issues, speak to the country, defend their position, etc. It wafts of a political stunt to postpone. I fear this is a ploy to mask a lack of preparedness in the McCain camp. If the crisis continues, will we postpone or cancel the next debates?

I don't get it. John McCain is not the President. Bush (God help us all) is still the President. Our next President will be decided in November!!! Prayerfully, our next President will be Barack Obama. We have 100 senators in the Senate and each party has a Majority / Minority leader. Why does McCain think the Universe will come to an end unless he shows up for his photo-ops and pretends to do something.

The only experience John McCain can add to this crisis is how he survived as Senator during our last bank bail out in the 80's. If I recall, John McCain one of the Keating 5. We don't need his kind of change. I hope the American people see through this latest gimmick by the Republicans to divert our attention away from Senator McCain's failing campaign.

I think that the entire McCain campaign is running in circles, and that it is a very big sham. He knows that he can't stand up to Obama, and, this is definitely proving it. Who knows, he might just want to cancel all of the debates. He is certainly trying to do that with the vice presidential debates. He wants to schedule all of them at a "later time." Yeah, right, and, just when would that be? He is trying to pander votes away from the Obama campaign. When he saw the numbers on the polls, he froze, then "melted", and then "decided" that he had to do something. Give me a break--all he is doing is spining and spinning --trying to make the Obama campaign look like they don't care about the crisis. Obama is right, a President should be able to do more than one thing at a time. Evidentally, all McCain can do is flounder like a fish. And, yeah, did you get a load of Sarah Palin's interview with Katie Couric? What another disaster that was--Palin knows nothing, and, now the world is finally starting to see that too! McCain should just go to "one of his homes", and call it quits. He does not have the stamina, nor the brains to run our country. We have had ENOUGH of the Republicans, and what they have done to our country--we need to reclaim it, and build it back up. John McCain can take all of his lobbyists and Sarah Palin, and ship them all to Alaska!

Sorry but, "they" are not playing a game of chicken, John McCain is.

And it's not a game - John McCain is ducking the debate and his campaign has already suggested "rescheduling" the VP debate too.

That's french for "We don't wanna answer questions about all the lies we've been telling."

Not very Presidential.

I am scared, and I think we should all be very scared. My children's future, my parent's future, and my and my husband's future depend on Washington. I asked my student's last week if they would have loaned to folks who could not repay a loan. At 18 they knew the answer was no, they also realized that greed and corruption are no way to run a banking system. Why were regulators not allowed into to see what was going on. If everything was on the level then there would have been nothing to fear. As there was major corporate corruption scandals ie. enron, adelphia, etc. years ago, I would have thought that regulating greed was essential. Why didn't the party in control do something then? I don't trust what is taking place now, and I for one want to hear from the candidates about where my future is heading. This is beyond politics, this is the breakdown of a nation and I need to know who has some idea about what we are going to do.

Can you say CHICKEN. What would McSame do in a time of crises? Quit? He is posturing and trying to make himself look responsible yet he has already proven himself to be a pandering coward in his pick of Palin. Remember how he did nothing when attacked by Bush in 2000? He didn't even defend his honor. COWARD.
OBAMA-BIDEN 2008

custerjs, just what do you think the John McCain or Barack Obama could do in DC? Nothing, except sit in on the meetings. There are plenty of capable people working to grind out an agreement.....McCain just wants to be able to say "I made it happen". Why didn't he decide to "suspend his campaign and delay the debate" when the proposal first came out days ago? He could have come back to DC in the beginning to "hammer it out", but he didn't. Don't forget, last week he was spouting the the economy was sound! This is all a political stunt, and America needs to wake up and see him for the hypocrit he really is.

Obama present and accounted for with actual roadmap for change vs. empty podium - that's a pretty accurate presentation of the comparison between the two men.

Hold the debate. If McCain can't deal with the real world, it's best that we know that now.

Considering how hard the McCain campaign pushed for more debates, I don't think McCain's trying to avoid it. This is just McCain being McCain, doing something unexpected to show everybody what a maverick he is. It worked pretty well with Palin, but he seriously misjudged this one. He can also try to make it look like he's focusing on the economy while Obama's only worried about politics, but that won't stick either. Washington's just as disfunctional whether he or Obama are there or not.

Apparently Lindsay Graham (SC) has already indicated that the McCain camp wants to displace the VP debate next week with the delayed Pres debate. When will the VP debate take place? No word, but I would expect it to be sometime after the election if McCain-Palin have their way in the matter.

McCain pulled the same thing in March 1999 re:Kosovo. Back then, he wasn't fairing so well in the polls and suddenly forgot how to multi-task. It worked then, and it seems like it may work again. Brilliant but desperate , and utterly shameless.

What are the odds that McCain wants to move the debate to October 2, replacing the Vice Presidential debate. Unfortunately, then, there won't be time for that one.

John mc Cain has never backed down from anything in his life.

Has it dawned on anyone that there may have been a planned attack by the the enemies of this Nation who invested heavily and then pull out ,all one day ,all one time on 911?

FBI is looking into it. The President of the United States has different intel than Congress has. The look on Bush's face is the same as it was in 2001 when he was reading to school children and got news.

Priority has never been the same between the two, because their base identity from childhood makes their caliber for American leadership today.

Obama's priority seems more influenced by M.U.M. in Fairfield Iowa, (the birthplace for community organizers ), than to attend debates in Washington, where the big boys play.

The financial crisis we are in didn't just fall out of the sky. It's not like someone just bombed Pearl Harbor, this CRISIS has been brewing for YEARS. The Presidential Debate is a critical process our future leaders have to go through, but Mccain would rather be playing catchup on an issue that's been here for years, and is going to still be here well into the first year of the next president's term.

McCain nor Obama is on a committee that is involved in economics. So neither of them are needed until the entire Senate vote is required. McCain is stalling, pure and simple. He's 1) not ready to debate, 2) trying to stop the vp debate, or 3) changing the game because he's losing. Maybe all three.

Either way, most people see this stall tactic for what it is. No matter what was going on in the past (Civil War, Iran hostage crisis) the debates went on, this one should too.

This is what VP's are for--watching your back. Perhaps McCain is realizing his VP pick can't share the load.

I think David Letterman hit the nail on the head. McCain is down in the polls and I believe he is afraid of debating Barack Obama. So he's running away to Washington. What in the world does he think he is going to accomplish by going there? Hasn't done much in the 20 plus years he has been there other than to side with Bush. What about Palin? She should be able to step in and debate, if he feels he cannot. After all, what happens if, God forbid, they get elected and something happens to McCain? I don't think debating is as difficult as running the country. But then again, we're talking about McCain and Palin!

McCain is running scared and running the risk of showing the American people that he is too impulsive to properly lead this country. He has flip-flopped more on the issue of the economy than anyone.

Observers, critics, even fellow Republicans, were left wondering: where did this sense of urgency come from? After all, it was this past Sunday that McCain hinted on 60 Minutes that he would support the bailout -- "we have to stop the bleeding" -- only to express deep criticisms on Monday and then admit he hadn't even read the three-page proposal on Tuesday.

"I have not had a chance to see it in writing," said the Senator. "I have to examine it." You have to examine it JOHN?? But now your all gun-ho when a few months backs you were saying that the economy is strong? Puuhhhlease.

The move permeated with political opportunism: an attempt by McCain to grab the leadership mantle he did not own and divert attention from poll numbers that were plummeting. Nice try, but the American People are not that stupid, (unless they are the ones voting for you, that is).

McCain is a joke, he is too old to lead, too rich to care, too stupid to come up with a solution. He will lose at the end.

Letterman had an excellent point. Why does McCain have to completely suspend his campaign? Shouldn't Sarah Palin be able to take over? Is she not capable of holding down the fort while McCain is in Washington for a day or two?

Oh thats right... she's so unqualified, the McCain campaign won't even let her speak, let alone give her the responsibility of taking the reins of the campaign for a few days. And she's supposed to be VP? And possibly Pres?

God help us.

Sen. John McCain should take advantage of the debates to explain to the millions of viewers how this financial crisis occurred and what he would do as President to repair the damage.

That's why we have debates. That's why we have elections.

What's wrong. When the country is in trouble you've got to help your friends--after all who would like another replay of Mission Accomplished, "Brownie, you've done such a great job," or heaven forbid it, the foundations of the economy are strong. I have got to run back to Washington. I can't even be an outsider and a maverick for five weeks and win one election without Washington sending smoke signals. No wonder the country went to dogs while I was a POW. I've got to bring change to Washington faster than I thought. I'll need to take over for my friend, George. They will meet us at the door to Lehman Brothers with flowers and American flags. Good job Brownie, Johnnie, Phillie--we've seen this before-- the S & L crisis, the Dot Com bubble--we've got soooo much experience! This war is only going to cost us 100-200 billion dollars. Now this is only going to cost us $700 billion dollars. Yeh--Just 7000 billion dollars. Mission Accomplished!

mccain is a coward after all the hero talk......he can keep his appointment for a 2 hr. debate......who is he trying to kid?

Why suspend the campaign? If John McCain can't deal with his role as a senator and campaign at the same time, which is laughable, then that's what his running mate is for. This is no reason for Sarah Palin and his other associates to stop campaigning for him. Does he believe that she can't handle it? And there is no reason why he can't be in Washington today and tomorrow and be at the debate tomorrow night.

Drrring...Drrring....Drrring
"Hello, McCain Campaign. Making America First, how can I help you?
"Hi, it's Barack. I need to talk to John."
"Oh, one moment."
"This is John."
"Hey John, we should make a statement about this economic mess. What do you think?"
"Sounds like a good idea."
"Cool, I'll get the ball rolling."
click
"Call the press. We're going to suspend the campaign."
SLEAZY MOVE

In combat, a leader goes to the place on the battlefield where he can have the most influence. In this economic battle, that place is Washington DC. McCain is leading from the front. Obama is in "the rear with the gear". McCain has been trying to get Obama to debate all summer long and now with the economy on the verge of a meltdown, Obama insists on debating Friday. Would Obama insist on a debate the week after Pearl Harbor, Black Tuesday 1929 or 9/11? Get a bill writeen now, debate later.

What a political stunt by McCain, and a flat out lie. He said he was rushing back to D.C., but instead went on an interview with Katie Couric, then taped a show with Racheal Ray where he helped her make veal piccata.....NICE! Exactly how does veal solve our financial crisis, Mr McCain?

Yeah Mr. McCain, where's your maverickness now? Who do you REALLY care
about? Got time for Katie and Racheal, but not for debates? Do you really think
Washington needs your voice that much? Apparently not, Katie and Racheal sure do tho, cuz you went to see THEM, and as far as debate, how much time would that really take away from your not-so-busy schedule? What a joke! We ought to start calling you George JR.

It is clear that McCain's only interest is in getting elected president. His motivations can be analyzed but they are clearly not about what is best for the US or its people. They are much more self-centered than that. McCain seems to be proving that you can be 72-years old and still very immature as a human being. He is also proving that the American people can be fooled quite easily and he has hired a team of political sharks and lobbyists to do that for him. His pick of Palin was so obviously not about country-first. Please! And now this stunt to suspend his campaign is ridiculous. But it may win him points with people who do not know any better. McCain is part of the problem. He will be of very little on no help in solving the economic crisis that he had a big hand in creating.
Jim Dandy of CA
Sep 24, 2008 18:59:53 PM [permalink] [report comment]

Read More Comments »
Add your thoughts
Subject: * Type your comments here: (3000 characters left) Your name: * Your E-mail address: * State: Submit
All comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.
Robert Schlesinger is a deputy editor at U.S. News and World Report and oversees all opinion editorial content. He is the author of White House Ghosts: Presidents and Their Speechwriters.

advertisement
OTHER ARTICLES FROM THE ROBERT SCHLESINGER BLOG

* Archives
* Recent Posts

* September 2008 (26)
* August 2008 (29)

1. The Financial Crisis and Its Enron Roots
2. 'I AM MINISTRY OF THE TREASURY OF THE REPUBLIC OF AMERICA.'
3. The GOP Opposes Bailouts—Its Platform Says So
4. Sarah Palin's International Debut: All Friends, No Media
5. A Crisis Too Far: the Financial Crisis and the Bush Administration's Credit Deficit

NEWSLETTER

Sign up today for the latest headlines from U.S. News & World Report delivered to you free.

* Learn More

RSS FEEDS

Personalize your U.S. News with our feeds of blogs and breaking news headlines.

* Subscribe

U.S. NEWS MOBILE

U.S. News daily briefings are also available on your mobile device.

* Subscribe

McSame is once again attemptiong to cover up the truth. It is fact that he and his fellow Republicans have created the mess we are in through a policy of Darwinian economics and free range speculation. We should have learned from the Savings and Loan crisis in the 1980's but have instead gone from bad to worse as a result of conservative Republican ideology designed to fool the people while enriching the wealthy.

No wonder McSame wants to duck the debates!

I agree with Dave, Palin should do it. This would require cutting all questions, CNN cutting the sound feed, and probably just showing a few still photo's of the event on TV. It would be a lovely North Kora style photo op for Palin though and we could all clap politely.

McCain is on target. His duties as a United States senator come first. Too bad Obama doesn't see any urgency. Besides, McCain has been chasing Obama for debates for months. A couple of days won't matter because Obama will surely get his butt shellacked in a debate with McCain on any issue. Obama and his handlers know it too.

== McCAIN * PALIN 08==

HOW DO THE REPUBLICANS WHO USED ONCE SACRED SOCIAL SECURITY MONIES TO MAKE THE BUDGET LOOK BETTER , CHANGED THE LAW TO WHERE CURRENCY COULD BE PRINTED WITH NO GOLD OR SILVER AS SECURITY ,AND HAVE ENGINEERED THE WORST FINANCIAL DEBACLES IN HISTORY WHILST MAKING THEIR CRONIES RICHER WHILE IN OFFICE YET CONTINUE TO GET ELECTED BECAUSE THEY OPPOSE ABORTION AND QUOTE SCRIPTURE?

McCain is slipping in the polls and growing desperate.

Now he's trying to leverage the Republican WhiteHouse to boost his own standing with the public.

Cheap political stunt that the American people aren't going to buy.

Not this time McRove !

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

Why would America REWARD complete Republican failure ?

We wont.

I am shocked that McCain wants to cancel the debate. If he wants to go to Washington, let him (although Congress has been working on this for days without his help -- why now?). But appearing for a debate at 9:30 pm on Friday night is NOT going to make or break the economy. Besides, the election is 40 days away and I want to see these candidates debate the issues face-to-face.

It's also weird, and unsettling, that McCain is calling this a "crisis" when just last week he said the economy was fundamentally sound. He is making me nervous and a little bit dizzy...

McCain's already said his piece regarding American fiscal policy, with his actions from the S&L scandal to the present day. He's for deregulation, and deregulation is not the answer to any question which faces the collapsing finance industry in the US today.

McCain's ducking out of a debate because he's going to get pummeled. It hasn't been an easy week for Republican money market policy. Sending Palin in his stead wouldn't fare any better (to be polite about it).

I think it's a cheap trick, completely unilateral, and definitely un-Presidential. We need a President who can juggle, and a VP who can at least be a useful stand-in when the President is otherwise occupied. The McCain/Palin ticket gives us none of that.

The debate is at 9PM and runs for 90 minutes. How difficult would it be to participate in Congressional activities during the day and fly into Oxford, MS for the debate, then back to DC? Is McCain too old and feeble to handle that? Shouldn't the President be capable of something so simple?

McCain is acting like a tired old man that is looking for excuses... He hasn't been part of the discussion on the economy and has been conducting a questionably "slimy" negative campaign against Obama. He's just not ready and realizes that Obama is.....
This is just an attempt to throw Obama off balance and it won't work.

This is called cowardice.........

I think it is refreshing to see John McCain risk his political future to help his fellow Americans. Mr Obama is either very confident in walking and chewing gum at the same time, or very naive to his personal limitations. I prefer the candidate that is not going to risk seeing the economy turn to a depression.

The Republican party strategy seems to be "keep from having to appear in public and keep from having to debate issues". If they can just avoid for as long as possible then they might just win as we and the media discuss items like "lipstick on a pig", the number of houses McCain owns, "bridges to nowhere" ,etc. We're being played for fools - 40 days left and a side by side comaprison over important issues like the economy and Iraq are being subverted by posturing. Watch, we won't get substance from McCain for as long as he can divert our attention.

In 2004 congress could have prevented this problem with oversight and regulations upon Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Ironically the Democrats including Obama thwarted this effort and you now know the results. McCain attempted to solve this problem 4 years ago. Obama thwarted it then. Will he thwart it again?

Hey, the economy is tottering on the brink of disaster -- something must be done now before it collapses. We need the political parties and candidates to cooperate and get us out of this calamity. There is plenty of time for debates until November, but right now our nation is facing an economic disaster! Wake up!

However, for all those who absolutely want the presidential debates to continue on Friday, maybe we can substitute a muppet show instead, with Miss Piggy debating Kermit the Frog.

One Senator, one vote. The vote tells us little or nothing about the candidate or his professed views on issues which extend far beyond the economic crisis created by eight years of Republiconism.. A debate would be far more instructive. But then the present administration and its representatives have always avoided transparency.

It should be noted that all members of Congress and the President have sworn to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. Bush's appointees to the Supreme Court and other federal courts believe in a strict construction of the Constitution. The powers of Congress are explicitly set forth.in Article 1, section 8, of the Constitution . Powers that are npt set forth are prohibited. Article 1, section 8, does not give Congress the power to use our tax money for corporate welfare..

Sure, jetting off to Washington to Save America is a publicity stunt. But why "suspend the campaign" and cancel all the political ads that he had already placed with media outlets?

Here's why: McCain is taking his pieces off the board. That's what you do before you start a new game.

So what's the new game going to be? Palin is, frankly, an embarrassment. Perhaps she will suddenly announce that her family needs her and her true loyalty is to Alaska (making the obligatory joke about caribou season starting soon), opening the door for McCain to choose a new running mate (perhaps someone with strong business credentials to make him look like he'll handle the economy well -- Romney?).

I find it interesting that Fox News has been pushing a baseless rumor that Obama is going to replace Biden. Of course there's no chance of that -- why would he? But such a story prepares Fox viewers (i.e. McCain supporters) for the notion that a late-game change of VP is a normal occurrence in presidential politics.

Or it's quite possible that none of this will come to pass. But if it does, remember that you heard it here first...

For those who think McCain is doing something good, you should keep in mind the reality of the situation:

Neither McCain nor Obama are part of the relevant committees that are working on the legislation. Neither McCain nor Obama are currently part of the Executive Branch, who has offered its suggestions to the legislature.

Why would it be helpful for two people _disconnected_ from the process to go to Washington right now? (Saying "Hey, I'm running for president" isn't a magic wand, and doesn't give you permission to participate with the appropriate committees.) Given both men are senators, and neither are able to join-in on the planning, they need to put pressure on the senators from their party who _are_ part of this process--which can be done from anywhere. (Very little of the Senate business is conducted in the _actual_ Senate building.) Otherwise, these men should be going into _detail_ with the American people about how things will be different once they are elected... and they should be ready to vote in a moment's notice, once the legislation is ready.

This excerpt from an article explains it best:

The suspension of the debate by McCain was designed in part to commandeer an issue that has belonged to Obama and try and show above-the-fray bipartisan leadership of the kind independent voters appreciate. Why either Obama or McCain would be needed in Washington to help work out a deal is unclear. Neither man sits on the Banking committee; much of the difficult political horsetrading is taking place in the House, not the Senate; and the outlines of a deal are becoming fairly apparent, even if all the votes for it have not materialized.

Result of recent tatic by McCain - a severe drop in polls Obama 45% McCain 39%

As far as McCain backing out of the debate, allegedly because of the economic crisis, Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania put it best, "What, does McCain think the Senate will still be working at 9 p.m. Friday?”

McCain is slipping in the polls and growing desperate.

Now he's trying to leverage the Republican WhiteHouse to boost his own standing with the public.
Flailing political stunt that the American people aren't going to buy.

Not this time McRove !

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

Why would America REWARD complete Republican failure ?

We wont.

So whats McCain going to do in Washington? Sit on his a** and wait for the actual committee whos job it is to work this deal out so he can put his vote in for it? He has no control over whats going to happen outside of his vote AFTER the deal has been hashed out....what a waste of time and a HUGE dodge of the debate hes so desperately wanted out of Obama....maybe its because its not in a town-hall....................

McCain is scared to death of the debate.....don't be fooled, citizens, by this rhetorical call for "suspension" of the campaign....he is still out there, still speaking, still having photo ops...we all know it is a ploy and the american public does not liked to be toyed with in this manner at this time.
Shame on McCain....he is trying the take advantage of us all!!

i can`t believe that back in 2000 i actually like macbrain. the "straight-talk-express"? come again? this guy makes "W" look like a straight shooter. he`s such a LIAR and his campaign so filled with distortions and half-truths, not to mention his ability at 'sweet-talk" when it is needed.. that he`s just about the most god-awful politician i`ve seen in a long long time. but it`s his LOVE of WAR that truely makes him unacceptable to the world at large. it he succeeds at conning his way to the presidency , then i guess that we will have gotten what we deserve. i`m trying not to demonize him here, as i like to be able to see the good with the bad...but almost all of what i see in maccain is someone who does exactly what he accuses obama of doing...putting self-interest FIRST, before the good of the country.

Looks to me as if McCain is just buying time to educate Palin on how to be a leader, as postponing this debate would push back the vice-presidential debate.
Its more than obvious that Obama would destroy McCain on a debate, and more than certain that Biden would send Palin back to Alaska on via pipeline after the VP debate. Face the music Mr. McCain, we have more than enough politicans in DC to make this economic plan work(even though I think it should not be passed). Go to Mississippi and see how over your head you really are!

I'm not a McCain support, nor Obama, but the whole Congress is needed to pass a bill that might stave off another all out depression. And they take forever to hash out a back room deal. Delaying the debate for a couple of days is a no brainer. Does it HAVE to be Friday. Why can't it be held on Monday? Or Tuesday. Most people won't even watch the thing anyway.

McCain is not afraid of the debate. Read the news. McCain may being doing this as a pure political maneuver but this debate is one most pundits, reporters and columnists think McCain has an advantage in. Foreign Policy is ground on which he is comfortable. I don't know if McCain knows enough to be afraid. He most likely isn't and If the situation is as grave as it seems, the two men have responsibilities as senators ( Obama does currently hold an office right?) to be in Washington and sort this out. And not do anything else until an agreement is reached.

if you think McCain's suspense of his campaign isn't a political stunt, I have a bridge to sell you in Alaska....

A politically-motivated stunt if there ever was one. Has McCain ever heard of telephones and computers?? Obama and his campaign are prepared to do it all: weigh in on the financial issues AND face off in a larger debate that will help decide the next POTUS. Rather convenient that at a time when McCain is slipping in the polls he pulls this.

Why isn't his campaign able to do two things at once? Because there's only one person on the ticket remotely qualified to perform on this stage. I may not agree with his party or his stances, but I will admit he's qualified to be where he is, though his astoundingly dubious choice of running mate does call that into question.

Those who say everything should be put on hold I think aren't seeing the forest through the trees. The decision of who is our next President is equally as important as the financial crisis in our banking system. Furthermore, they are each senators, with one vote apiece in a larger picture. The significance they each have as Presidential candidates, 45 days before the national election, is far greater than the significance they each have as senators.

Political stunt, nothing more. The Republican machine gaming the system, as they do so, so very well.

We as a democratic nation need to have the opportunity to see these candidates debate the issues. I agree with Obama; the debate should go on as scheduled. McCain and Obama are senators and they can vote on the bill without even being present. The Senate., the House and Paulson are the ones who should be working out the package. When one of the candidates becomes President is when they should fully engage in the issue. I am convinced that McCain is not doing this little "razzle dazzle" stunt because he cares about the country; he just wants to sabatoge the debate for a political advantage. That is because he has nothing of any value to say. He's gone around the bend.

American Citizens, please look at this ACTION.

If McCain becomes president and there is an issue that MATTERS to you and he deems that it doesn't want to handle it RIGHT NOW and abruptly goes into another direction -- because he deems that direction/decision is more important to him. You will be very upset.

Look at how this man is acting. Don't believe for ONE second that this type of behavior will change if he becomes President. Know that THIS is what to expect if he's voted in.

You should beware!

I find it interesting that McCain can find time to show up at Clinton's event today, but can't get to the debate.

A politically-motivated stunt if there ever was one. Has McCain ever heard of telephones and computers?? Obama and his campaign are prepared to do it all: weigh in on the financial issues AND face off in a larger debate that will help decide the next POTUS. Rather convenient that at a time when McCain is slipping in the polls he pulls this.

Why isn't his campaign able to do two things at once? Because there's only one person on the ticket remotely qualified to perform on this stage. I may not agree with his party or his stances, but I will admit he's qualified to be where he is, though his astoundingly dubious choice of running mate does call that into question.

Those who say everything should be put on hold I think aren't seeing the forest through the trees. The decision of who is our next President is equally as important as the financial crisis in our banking system. Furthermore, they are each senators, with one vote apiece in a larger picture. The significance they each have as Presidential candidates, 45 days before the national election, is far greater than the significance they each have as senators.

Political stunt, nothing more. The Republican machine gaming the system, as they do so, so very well.

You have to be very naive to think McCain suspended his campaign and wants to cancel the debate because he thinks he needs to be in Washington now. Give me a break!! This is purely a political maneuver. He is now behind in every poll and he is trying to pull the proverbial "rabbit out of the hat". His campaign seems to be unraveling. Palin talks about a depression and the Bush administration hasnt yet even admitted we are in a recession.
The debate better not be cancelled because if it is the commission just pandered to McCain. Obama should definitely go and let the empty chair speak for itself.

Oh ya? Delay the debate? Hmm what about delay the whole country since we are having crisis in Iraq? All Americans should rush to 'IRAQ' and leave everything else behind? BS, I am really freaking sick of McLame, McBush McClueless you name it, he is definitely not qualified to be a president, not now not ever. You need to be able to handle more than 1 thing when you are president I guess? For those retards that said all Obama cares about is just talk talk talk, I totally disagree, in fact, people that HAVE brain see through that, another dirty tactic McSame uses to attack Obama to convince retarded people. It's fine, Americans are smarter than that, if I were McCain, I would suspend my campaign from now on and seriously plan on my retirement.

It's basic. Anyone fit to be President of the USA can both drop into Washington to participate AND fullfill his responsibility to voters and honor the debate. Voters NEED to listen to these two together, with some of the BS filtered out, and make up their minds.

McCain spent most of today at Clinton's global get-together. Why didn't he cancel that event and run immediately to Washington to participate? The negotiations are going on today and he's not there? He hasn't been there at any point of the last two weeks, is HE really going to make the difference? I doubt it.

Before he made his announcement yesterday, he called Bush, so the White House press officer just said. Yesterday, it was positioned that Bush called both candidates - intimating that it was BUsh's idea to call them in and McCain was prescient and "presidential". Ain't so - he essentially set it up with his buddy Bush.

Let's not forget, either, it was Obama who first outstretched the bipartisan hand at 8:30 AM, McCain, without having the courtesy to discuss his new twist on Obama's joint statement idea, made his announcement in the afternoon - making it look like HE was the one that had shown bipartisan leadership.

Let's not forget additionally, McCain's comment to a journalist a few days ago that "he hadn't had time yet to read the Bailout proposal"! Two and a half pages?
No time to read the $700 Billion proposal but he felt he had to rush to Washington to negotiate its contents? Sorry, but isn't that absurd?

Finally, we can't forget Governor Palin. Slipped in behind McCain's call to delay his own debate is his suggestion to delay Palin-Biden debate. Presumably he really wants to delay that one until way after the early voters have cast their ballot.

The man is a fraud, and if the system allows him to get away with this...the system is truly flawed and, once again, it's the American voter that gets shafted.

So far McCain has made two decisions as presidential candidate:

-He picked a risky running mate, not somebody who has a certain type of expertise needed to run the country, but somebody to appeal to the far right and to add some pizzazz to his campaign and divert attention away from him.

-He's chickening out of the debate, blaming the Wall St crisis. If he's president, will he just stop running the country if something happens? His running mate can't fill in for him so he'll have to do everything himself and clearly he can't do this.

Drrring...Drrring....Drrring
"Hello, McCain Campaign. Making America First, how can I help you?
"Hi, it's Barack. I need to talk to John."
"Oh, one moment."
"This is John."
"Hey John, we should make a statement about this economic mess. What do you think?"
"Sounds like a good idea."
"Cool, I'll get the ball rolling."
click
"Call the press. We're going to suspend the campaign."
SLEAZY MOVE

No, not a sleazy move. This was a classic populist move and Obama just got schooled by a pro.

Obama, his staff, his surrogates and every single Obama Drone on this board got blindsided and BUSHwacked. Of course Bush would come to McCain's rescue and put the pressure on Obama to come to Washington and do his job as a Senator. You have no idea how politics works, do you SENATOR Obama? You're a rookie. Your lack of EXPERIENCE just did you in.

That's right SENATOR Obama.....do your job!! We know you prefer to just vote "present" on every single important piece of legislation but this time you actually have to do some work and put some thought into it.

It is clear that McCain's only interest is in getting elected president. His motivations can be analyzed but they are clearly not about what is best for the US or its people. They are much more self-centered than that. McCain seems to be proving that you can be 72-years old and still very immature as a human being. He is also proving that the American people can be fooled quite easily and he has hired a team of political sharks and lobbyists to do that for him. His pick of Palin was so obviously not about country-first. Please! And now this stunt to suspend his campaign is ridiculous. But it may win him points with people who do not know any better. McCain is part of the problem. He will be of very little on no help in solving the economic crisis that he had a big hand in creating.
Jim Dandy of CA
Sep 24, 2008 18:59:53 PM [permalink] [report comment]

Read More Comments »
Add your thoughts
Subject: * Type your comments here: (3000 characters left) Your name: * Your E-mail address: * State: Submit
All comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.
Robert Schlesinger is a deputy editor at U.S. News and World Report and oversees all opinion editorial content. He is the author of White House Ghosts: Presidents and Their Speechwriters.

advertisement
OTHER ARTICLES FROM THE ROBERT SCHLESINGER BLOG

* Archives
* Recent Posts

* September 2008 (26)
* August 2008 (29)

1. The Financial Crisis and Its Enron Roots
2. 'I AM MINISTRY OF THE TREASURY OF THE REPUBLIC OF AMERICA.'
3. The GOP Opposes Bailouts—Its Platform Says So
4. Sarah Palin's International Debut: All Friends, No Media
5. A Crisis Too Far: the Financial Crisis and the Bush Administration's Credit Deficit

NEWSLETTER

Sign up today for the latest headlines from U.S. News & World Report delivered to you free.

* Learn More

RSS FEEDS

Personalize your U.S. News with our feeds of blogs and breaking news headlines.

* Subscribe

U.S. NEWS MOBILE

U.S. News daily briefings are also available on your mobile device.

* Subscribe

I can understand why Obama is not suspending his campaign to join the debate. I f it comes down to a vote, he would most likely vote "present" just like most of his other votes in the senate.

Posted by lionel Grisbane September 25, 08 10:50 AM
==========================================================
I didn’t choose this comment for any specific reason besides it represent a few others just like it. THERE IS NO PRESENT BUTTON AT THE SENATE LEVEL (or the equivalent). Go educate yourself and stop listening to Fox news for your talking points.
The real issue here is McCain wants to suspend the one and only VP debate. You can’t keep hiding Palin from the American people John! We have a right to know who she is. She is the most sheltered VP in the history of American elections. Free Sara Palin!

Obama is supposed to lose the Foreign Policy debate to mccain, according to conventional wisdom. The debate is scheduled for Friday night, 9PM EST.

By 9PM on a Friday night, half of the people living in the East are already in a drunken stupor...By 8PM, half of the people in the Central Time Zone are well on their way...By 7PM, half the people in the Mountain time zone are already ordering their takeout pizza to go along with their Friday night beverage of choice, and by 6PM, half the people out West are are wrapping up happy hour and finishing their sushi...so what does this all mean?

It means Obama needs to have the one debate he knows he will lose on a night when nobody remembers what happens the next morning (which is the real reason Saturday papers are the least read of the entire week) - and will also provide ample time for the Begalas and Carvilles of the world time to synchronize their spin riddled sound bytes for the Sunday morning talking head shows. Then Monday will provide a whole new news cycle of issues to focus on.

Summary: Obama must have the debate on Friday; McCain wins bigger on any other night, Sunday through Thursday.

Everyone knows you can believe anything a politician says. The debates are over-hyped talent shows, like American Idol for presidential candidates. If singing & dancing are important to you watch the debates.

If you want to know what a candidate would really do regarding the economy, look at his VOTING RECORD.
If you want to know what a candidate would really do regarding foreign policy, look at his VOTING RECORD.
If you want to know what a candidate would really do regarding education, look at his VOTING RECORD.
If you want to know what a candidate would really do regarding abortion, look at his VOTING RECORD.

To the guy who said McCain went to the Rachel Ray show: McCain was on Rachel Ray on the 19th!! This was before his decision to stop campaigning and go back to Washington to DO HIS JOB! I commend him for stepping up to the challenge and showing leadership in a time when it is most critical and needed in our country.

On the contrary, I see Obama as the one who is avoiding things and hiding under the cover of a debate.

Stop basing your political timeline and facts on what David Letterman says.

Can we please srop with the Rachel Ray/ veal piccatta stuff? That comment was a JOKE by Letterman. There'e enough to attack Clueless McCain w/out spreading this lie. Obviously BHO is the real leader.

All they have to do is change the location of the debate, from Mississippi to Washington. Then, both candidates can stay in DC to join in the bailout plans, and do the debate at the same time, without having to travel at all. Its a compromise - and that is what is needed to get stuff done in this country. McCain has had to compromise and buck his party sometimes to get stuff done. Not sure if Obama would buck his party for the good of the country.....

Wow!!!! Another Shoot-From-the-Hip maneuver by McCain. Is this who America wants having a finger on the button? I can imagine him answering a 3am phone call & he pushes the "Red "Button before he gathers any information or facts, & the world as we knew it will be a bunch of mushroom clouds.
On top of that he picks a VP who has a religious leader that believes in witchcraft & has smeared the reputation of many women as well as had some end up dead due to his persecution based on witchcraft. And we have now seen her going through this ritual in order to be evacuated of witchcraft. How can any American support someone who not only believes this BS, but apparently promotes this. It smacks in the face of women's rights, & religious persecution. Since when did the conservative movement approve of this behavior? IF her ticket were to be elected this fall, are we to be worried about returning to the persecuting from the 17th century? I have relatives in Salem, Ma. I guess they should be very afraid

McCain is right. Obama (who voted with Senate Democrats in lock-step 97% of the time) doesn't want the focus on how the Democrats created this crisis by not regulating Sub-Prime loans when they were supposed to.
Besides, Obama figures he can just vote "present" like he always does when hard questions come up.
By the way, the debate on Friday is scheduled to be about FOREIGN POLICY so they wouldn't be discussing the domestic fiscal crisis, anyway.

McCain is scared. He's losing and ashamed for listening to his handlers and becoming Bush II. Why does Palin have to stop campaigning? C'mon John, be a man and stand up to the competition!

5 MILLION FOR A DEBATE!!!! I 'VE GOT TWO CHAIRS AND A MIKE THEY CAN SHARE FOR ONLY 3 MIL.

DEAR CARGO.... YOU CANN'T USE BARACK'S MIDDLE NAME SO YOU SHOULD REFER TO HIM AS JUST PLAIN OLD B.O.

DO ANY OF YOU GUYS HAVE ACTUAL JOBS? I'M RETIRED, FOR A LONG TIME, SO I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DO ALL DAY. OK.......GUYS A RAISE OF HANDS...HOW MANY STATE WORKERS ARE THERE HERE!!!!!!!

Just what we need, some moron going to Congress to tell them the fundamentals of the American ecomony are strong. This is what McShame has learned in his 20+ years in Congress? I simply cannot believe people are stupid enough to vote for this quack. You want four more years of Bush, go right ahead and continue ruining this country. McPalin are a disgrace to this nation.

custerjs, Your pathetic one sided take on this is disingenuous. McCain and Phil Graham are two of the leading achitects of this disaster. If he really wants to help this country he would except responsibility for this, and stay out of it at this point. His only objective is to avoid a debate, and not answer hard questions. From maverick to weasel at the speed of light.

Is the same McCain that stated recently that economics was not his strong point? So it is essential that he is in DC for the discussions? Can;t do a conference call like Obama? He just wants to postpone his debate to to buy time for Palin so she can "study" for her debate w/ Joe Biden. Pathetic.

The 1992 Presidential Debates with Ross Perot were not dull. His warnings have now come true. Replace John McCain with Ron Paul. Add Ralph Nader and Cynthia McKinney. Barack Obama must earn his victory, not win by default.

There are quite a few of you on here (and blogging elsewhere, also), who keep calling us Obama supporters "sheep". You McCain "sheep" are willing to believe ANYTHING this man dishes out to you. If he drools, you would all be there to wipe his little mouth. He is out and out lying to you......wake up! Loyalty is one thing, blind stupid loyalty is quite another!

Barrack Obama is a fool! The integrity of this country is at stake here. This meeting called by PRESIDENT Bush is of utmost importance. A debate can be resheduled any time. Senator Obama, YOU should fear this debate. You don't have a concrete plan for one thing you're proposing to change in this country. Are you afraid to go to Washington where you can't stand up to those who really know how to run the country? You're full of rhetorical crap.

The notion that this is a stunt because his ratings are dipping is absurd. Tomorrow's debate is on foreign policy, which is a topic McCain is stronger on and a forum in which he does better. The media have questioned how well Obama will fare in a debate environment, not McCain.

His job is Senator and his aspirations are President. Shouldn't he do his job first? Those suggesting that he represents one vote only are the ones who are naive. He is his party's choice for President - he more than the current President has the most pull in bringing his party to the table on this issue. Obama has the same leverage with the Dems, should he choose to exercise it.

McCain is also not the one distracting focus from the economy with his announcement - it's the backlash that has distracted focus. I think it's responsible to suggest that a campaign for the Presidency can be put on hold for a few days to address a crisis that, while it may have been long coming, appears to be at a critical juncture. I'd rather see discussion that yields real action - on the floor in Washington, than hear their opinions on an issue they've chosen not to participate in. And, Palin will have her opportunity to debate Biden...the point of a Presidential debate is to hear how the candidate conducts him/herself. What would be the point in having a stand-in on the topic?

I just saw that Congress has reached an agreement on a bailout package. McCain does it again! All he had to do was say he was going to fly to Washington and a haze of congeniality descended on Congress and the administration, and all was well. McCain didn't even have to get there for his effect to be felt.

You doubt me? Look at what McCain did for oil prices. All he had to do was say "You know, I've changed my mind about off-shore drilling" and world prices plummeted in anticipation of an insignificant amount of crude hitting the market in ten years.

An another thing - McCain said last night that it was too dark and we really should do something about it, and just a few hours later the sun rose. We have GOT to have this man as our president, for the alternative is financial ruin, endless energy dependence, and eternal darkness.

Donna, do you only have one sentence to use? "Barack Obama is a fool!" It seems to me that you are the fool. Have you even looked at Obama's plan? I don't think you have. Have you looked at McCain's plan? I doubt that you have. You are just spewing out nasty comments. You don't have a clue about any of the policies of either of the candidates.....you are just a blind sheep following McCain, the lying shepherd.

It's truly amazing that McCain even showed up. Little known fact but true... John McCain has missed over 400 senate votes this past year placing him first (worst, depends how you look at it). 2nd Place is held by a Senator who is handicapped with 300 Not Presents, and Obama was third with 290. Given they are both on the campaign, why don't their numbers match?

Tomorrow's topic is Foreign Policy, and it will be nano-seconds before it switches to how the Global Economic Crisis (yes a lot of the paper & financing is overseas) will affect how we deal with foreign relations. And since McCain can't even use a calculator, it's probably Obama's to lose.

But wouldn't it be something if its simply a roundtable Q & A between Obama and Lehrer because McCain swore he wouldn't show up unless the deal was signed and it wasn't going to be signed until Saturday?

This Grandstanding Stunt could possibly backfire worse than Sarah Palin's interview with Katie Couric last night. This IS CARIBOU BARBIE... just pull the string and she repeats everything that is programmed into that little pea brain of hers. He's probably wisshing he had picked Romney now.

Posted by custerjs September 25, 08 10:23 AM -

Stop with your irrational comments about Obama. It is McCain who wants to abandon the debate. He's scared silly to stand next to Obama and debate. Why does McCain all the sudden wants to go to DC? Don't we have enough senators and congressmen for the job?

McSame is just trying to find a way around the debate, that way he looks heroic by his choice to drop everything at a crucial time - the Elections.

Posted by Donna September 25, 08 02:12 PM

Why are you afraid of Obama? McCain is 71 yrs old. The thought of this relic who changes his mind every minute, it seems, is not what I want in a President. He's Mr. Flip flop.

The Republican political machine is masterful in its use of duck, cover, divert, attack and blame. It really is breathtaking how much the American electorate will allow these charlatans to get away with. They have nominated two deeply flawed human beings (can anyone in his right mind consider Palin capable of filling the office she may soon hold if they win?????) who are being sold to the electorate with the same cleverness they used to sell them the incumbent snake oil salesmen in 2000 and 2006. By the way, Obama and Biden aren't exactly my ideal of meaningful change either, but given the alternative.............

This is no great surprise he now is pulling a political stunt. So who carees if he causes more delays he isn't ready apparently to debate. He shows up and look like a fool and gets this whole plan hijacked. This definetly will effect the stock market in a very negative way on Friday and our little savings because of his behavior.

As far as I am concerned he didn't care about those people who are on is campaign do his "work" for him . And now Ms Palin is also thinking of suspending her campaign she just ought to step down she is a person who has no integrity either. They both deserve each other. What a pair!
Most of my co-workers are now going to vote differently since this stunt has happened and I definetly habve lost respect for these two incompetent people!

If the elections in six weeks aren't going to be postponed, then I don't see why the debates should be postponed. If we postpone the debates, we will have about as much time to decide on the next president as the Bush Administration gave us to decide on their bail out plan, and if the majority of the public is against quick three page fixes, then we should take Pelosi's advice and and take the time to do it right and make clear decisions based on clear facts. We can't get those facts if McCain is not around to be real. Over and Out

I am disgusted at McCain beyond belief. This university has spend over $5 million for this debate and there are hundreds of people who have paid expensive air fare and hotel rooms for this debate. He is needed in Washington almost as much as I am.

I believe he will be there for the debate. This is all a publicity stunt trying to rise suspense to him showing up. If he doesn't, he is just plain stupid. Obama calmness, steadiness is looking more and more Presidential every day.

This stunt of McCain's is nearly as stupid as putting Palin in front of world leaders last week and then her hiding from the press.

Dear Senator McCain,
Please do not attend the debate on Friday night, stay in Washington, watch in on television and maybe you will learn something.
Senator Obama will be attending, he will have an hour and a half of air time completely to himself. The following morning he will fly to Washington and there you will see him in person. This is called multi-tasking and taking care of business which is what a president does. Leadership at it's best!
Please Senator McCain watch and learn.

And we are amazed because??? McCain is not prepared and anyway, anything he does is quite well thought out by his campaign. This is what he hopes will happen. The debate doesn't take place tonight, then he says that the VP debate can't take place on the 2nd October because the Presidential debate didn't happen, thus ensuring that Palin does not get to debate with Biden. Palin problem solved.

wow, so what McCain is saying here is that he is not capable or just not willing to deal with 2 different things at the same time as a candidate.

What will happen if he is president and the Iraqy insurgency does something and a hurricane hits LA at the same time put one on hold or just ignore the "less" important issue

Yes, the debate should go on. McCain is obviously throwing a tantrum because the debate won't be one of his "Town Hall" style farces, complete with pre-screened audience and pre-approved questions. He's scared to death to be caught out of his element.

mrsb.....get a life and get over the Obama rhetorical nonsense. This country will go down the tubes with Obama at the helm.

mb, they can show that they care about what is really important to the American public. THE ECONOMY! Barry would love to say that he made it happen also but that is not the point. Why is it that the American public still does not know what the tree state of the economy is? Once both candidates found out what it truly was that is when it was a made dash. McCain just came out early and said that he was going to put his country before his self and nothing that Barry has done show that he care for anyone but himself. Hypocrit(?) it¡¦s actually spelled HYPOCRITE. Don't forget Barry is chastising the Republican for the same kind of campaign that he is running. Plus, Barry political stances change daily to the side where there are more votes. I still would like a president that stands up for what he believes in.

Matthew Christin, thank you for opening the door. ļ The truth is that the Clinton area is the cause of this disaster. In 1992 the Clinton administration told Freddie and Fannie that they had to start making/buying loans for people who did not qualify under the old standards. This caused riskier loans to be made to individuals who could not afford to buy a house and even illegal immigrants! I think you might need to do your research. As far as the debate goes; compared to Barry he is a Foreign Policy mastermind, which is the debate forum.

Nellie, without a teleprompter Barry is no better at a debate than an average high school debate team. McCain see an opportunity to show that he is a leader; however the candidate, that it looks to me that you plan to vote for, seem to only care about two thing himself and being president¡Knot the American public. If that was the case he would use that great ability to lead that he says that he has and bring both parties together. Is Congress still at a stalemate on this bail out issue¡K

Barry Obama supporters, you will not like me and I don't care. You are being taken for a ride by an individual that only cares about himself and his agenda. Look at his past, look at his past religion (which never leave anyone psyche), and be patriotic (the man won¡¦t even say the pledge; put his hand over his heart, and thinks the American flag is a sign of oppression. It¡¦s sad.