Debate is on, after all
There's not quite a Wall Street bailout deal, but it's game on in Mississippi tonight.
Republican John McCain announced that he will debate, but in his statement confirming his attendance blasted Democrats and bemoaned Washington politics:
"John McCain’s decision to suspend his campaign was made in the hopes that politics could be set aside to address our economic crisis.
"In response, Americans saw a familiar spectacle in Washington. At a moment of crisis that threatened the economic security of American families, Washington played the blame game rather than work together to find a solution that would avert a collapse of financial markets without squandering hundreds of billions of taxpayers’ money to bailout bankers and brokers who bet their fortunes on unsafe lending practices.
"Both parties in both houses of Congress and the administration needed to come together to find a solution that would deserve the trust of the American people. And while there were attempts to do that, much of yesterday was spent fighting over who would get the credit for a deal and who would get the blame for failure. There was no deal or offer yesterday that had a majority of support in Congress. There was no deal yesterday that included adequate protections for the taxpayers. It is not enough to cut deals behind closed doors and then try to force it on the rest of Congress -- especially when it amounts to thousands of dollars for every American family.
"The difference between Barack Obama and John McCain was apparent during the White House meeting yesterday where Barack Obama’s priority was political posturing in his opening monologue defending the package as it stands. John McCain listened to all sides so he could help focus the debate on finding a bipartisan resolution that is in the interest of taxpayers and homeowners. The Democratic interests stood together in opposition to an agreement that would accommodate additional taxpayer protections.
"Senator McCain has spent the morning talking to members of the Administration, members of the Senate, and members of the House. He is optimistic that there has been significant progress toward a bipartisan agreement now that there is a framework for all parties to be represented in negotiations, including Representative Blunt as a designated negotiator for House Republicans. The McCain campaign is resuming all activities and the Senator will travel to the debate this afternoon. Following the debate, he will return to Washington to ensure that all voices and interests are represented in the final agreement, especially those of taxpayers and homeowners."
Obama's campaign is getting close to gloating about McCain's seeming about-face on the debate.
It sent out a quote from a former McCain adviser, who said the Arizona senator "blinked" in the staredown over the debate.
"It just proves his campaign is governed by tactics and not ideology," Republican consultant Craig Shirley told Huffington Post. "In the end, he blinked and Obama did not. The 'steady hand in a storm' argument looks now to more favor Obama, not McCain."
Obama's chief strategist David Axelrod, meanwhile, mocked McCain's claims that he was a player in the bailout talks, citing reports that McCain only talked briefly during the session with President Bush and congressional leaders.
"Unless he telepathically imposed his will" on those in the meeting, McCain had no impact, Axelrod said on MSNBC.
Most voters expect Obama to have the upper hand in the debates, according to a new poll out this morning.
In the CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey, 59 percent of likely voters said they expect Obama to do a better job in the debates, while 34 percent picked McCain.
While McCain's running mate Sarah Palin is new to the national stage, the poll shows a virtual tie between her and veteran Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden in the expectations game: 48 percent of likely voters said they expected Biden to do a better job in their debate scheduled for Thursday, while 47 percent said Palin would.
The survey was conducted Sept. 19-21 and has a margin of error among likely voters of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
The Democratic candidates, both for president and vice president, had the expectations leads in similar polls in both 2000 and 2004.
Speaking of the expectations game, the Obama campaign points out that Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post is reporting that an astute reader found McCain ads already proclaiming victory.
Cillizza reports: "McCain Wins Debate!" declares the ad which features a headshot of a smiling McCain with an American flag background. Another ad spotted by our eagle-eyed observer featured a quote from McCain campaign manager Rick Davis declaring: "McCain won the debate-- hands down."
And, trying to raise the bar for McCain, Obama spokesman Bill Burton just issued a memo that says the Republican has "home-field advantage."
"The centerpiece of John McCain’s campaign has been his more than a quarter century of experience in Washington learning about and debating foreign policy," the memo says in part. "If he slips up, makes a mistake, or fails to deliver a game-changing performance, it will be a serious blow to his campaign. Given his unsteady performance this week, he desperately needs to win this debate in a big way in order to change the topic and get back to his home turf."
UPDATE: The McCain campaign issued its reply, titled "Lifeless, Aloof, and Windy," to the Obama memo.
"In a memo that perfectly captures the nastiness and politics first approach of Senator Obama's campaign, Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton distributed a memo this afternoon as part of a last minute attempt to lower expectations for his candidate in tonight's debate. The memo mocks John McCain's efforts to put politics aside in order to achieve a bipartisan solution to the financial crisis now confronting our nation, and questions John McCain's record of bucking his own party and reaching across the aisle in order to bring about badly needed reforms. The Obama campaign also includes in the memo an AP piece that characterizes their candidate's previous debate performances as "lifeless, aloof and windy." In fact, that is a better characterization of Senator Obama's brief record in the United States Senate. He has never once bucked his own party in order to enact major legislation, he has never once taken real action when he had more to gain from speechifying, and he has never once risked his own political life in the service of a cause greater than winning his next election," Michael Goldfarb, a McCain spokesman, said in a statement.
"The only thing John McCain jeopardized this week was his own political standing, as he has done time and again in order to advance the interests of the American people. On the other hand, Barack Obama has been a steady, if occasionally silent, opponent of the Iraq war, quieting his criticism when it was politically expedient to do so. He has been a steady proponent of direct presidential negotiations with the world's worst tyrants, though he allowed his advisers to walk back that policy when it was politically expedient to do so. And yesterday, when Barack Obama chaired the White House meeting on our current financial crisis, he used the occasion as just another venue for his steady stream of petty partisan attacks. Barack Obama has been a steady campaigner, and a steady legislator, but he has been steadily wrong, and as a leader he has no record at all."
With all the talk about "closed door meetings" and the Oxford debate . . .isn't this why we have a Congress at all? To debate things in public? Or is it just a show?
"John McCain listened to all sides so he could help focus the debate on finding a bipartisan resolution that is in the interest of taxpayers and homeowners. "
I guess that's why he didn't participate in the discussions or offer an opinion........
And now his campaign is blaming others for politicizing this????
blah, blah, blah anyone got a shovel, it's getting deep in here
uh, Congress wasn't playing the "blame game" until ME first McCain strolled into town. This guy is unbelievable, and certainly has no business running for president. McPalin = joke.
Lovely, a 500 word essay from the McCain campaign on how McCain's not *really* reneging on his pledge to skip the debate until a deal was reached. I feel about 3 IQ points dumber having read it. It was a stunt, it backfired, and it lost McCain political capital no matter how much newspeak his campaign sprays at America.
I'm happy. Now maybe we get a real debate, instead of Obama Hour.
What was the point of expecting Obama to participate in the bailout talks? I'm not sure how "PRESENT!!" will help get anything resolved.....
"Obama Nation" would be an abomination. Obama will appear to win the debate tonight, but when one reads the transcripts, it'll be apparent that he had very little to say. A charismatic speaker, yes, but so unqualified, it's painful. If life were a Teleprompter, Obama would be king; but since life is actually complicated, Obama is way over his head. Go McCain.
Finally! Chicken needs to talk as well. For people that think that McClueless suspends his campaign because of the crisis now, that's so not true, just another dumb excuse to chicken out and change his mind or not ready yet you name it, the same old dirty tactic the McLame campaign had use. If you can't multi-tasking, that's it, no more excuses, you need a retirement, McElder, it's time to let the youngster takes over.
If you like how McCain runs a campaign, you'll love him as Pres, alongside of his dimwitted, uninformed VP.
This is a travesty.
I am tired of reading "spin" as news. Please don't add every quote from a candidate's spinmeisters / i.e. campaign staff. We can figure out from the actions we see or read about what things mean. When spin like what is in this article is included, it reads as if it is fact. Please edit, so everything doesn't appear in print on the page, and so that everything a source says does not appear to have equal weight because it got included in the article. As for McCain's spokesperson saying Obama was posturing but McCain in coming back to the debates tonight isn't posturing--? Oh, for heavenssake, how gullible does he think we are?
Oh give me a BREAK Johnny!!
Who's doing the political posturing here? The House republicals, as usual, are doing what they do best, trying to include what they know to be a "poison pill" in legislation so they can then accuse the Demotratic Congress of killing it. Meanwhile, Waffle McSame typically is totally vague about his position so that he and the House republicals can all claim to be "mavericks."
Let's get this straight... The only plan that has LESS support in Congress than the bailout is the House republical plan! That plan is called "The Japanese Model" by some economists because it's what the Japanese tried to do for their economy that made it melt down. The Paulson Plan, called by some economists "The Sweden Plan," is the one that has, by far, the most support in Congress (as long as the added restrictions are in place), and was also what Sweden used a few years back to rescue their economy.
Hey republicals... Let's not ever let the truth get in the way of your accusations!
Exactly - McCain did NOTHING - he just wants to avoid the debate because he knows he will not do well, especially right now. Typical POLITICAL response by McCain - once again he tries to fool the public with his posturing. Let's make sure we aren't fooled again. Vote Obama.
Will McCain really debate? Is this just another stunt to dominate the news? I am angry about McCain holding the Hill hostage to avoid Obama debate. Senator McCain, like Bush did, manipulates the American people. We deserve access to candidates and the White House.
Dave 24, What an original comment, you must be very proud of yourself!
Will McCain really debate? Is this just another stunt to dominate the news? I am angry about McCain holding the Hill hostage to avoid Obama debate. Senator McCain, like Bush did, manipulates the American people. We deserve access to candidates and the White House.
im not sure whether i would sum up the mccain/palin ticket as a complete joke or a complete scam? either fits though
It's the democrats fault?
The bipartisan commitee of members from both houses of congress working with members of the republican administration puts together a bail out package (workable or a joke doesn't matter) and because it was done before McPosture arrived it's Obamas fault.
But we have yet to hear a porposal from McPosture, only sound bits that he is doing this for the good of the country. That he doesn't have a clue of what will or will not work I guess is also the democrats fault.
Now that he has to participate in the debate to save face every one but John McPosture will have accept the blame.
Why hasn't the alternative proposal by the House Republicans been publicized?
It would certainly be interesting to see a better proposal...Or at least put something on display to help us assess the sincerity of a proposal and prove it is not just posturing.
Please, for the love of God, do not simply stenographically copy aMcCain (or Obama) press release without doing a modicum of actual -- what's the word for it? oh, yeah -- reporting.
The proposed deal had the support of the Senate and House Democrats. The Democrats are a majority of both houses. Ergo, the proposal already had majority support. Any other assertion is wrong. Since McCain is involved with the negotiations, he should be held accountable for that basic fact. Therefore, the assertion that "There was no deal or offer yesterday that had a majority of support in Congress" is simply a lie. Congressional and national politics may make it necessary to get the support of a significant minority, but that doesn't mean that the proposal lacked majority support.
Of course, the lie is revealed in the statement "The Democratic interests stood together in opposition[.]" McCain can't have it both ways.
Finally, it is only with utter contempt for the press corps and the American people that McCain could say that he insists on a bipartisan solution and the inclusion of Representative Blunt as a designated negotiator. Blunt wants to blow up the deal.
The deal has to make sure that our government doesn't overpay for the distressed securities that need to be sold by the banks to get them off their balance sheets. Otherwise, the taxpayer will definitely be paying for bailing out the banks that got themselves into trouble. There needs to be some protections written into the package, and I don't care who gets the blame or credit. Just get it done correctly.
a few questions for anyone to answer: Where has obama been and what has he done? The answer: No where and nothing.
That being said, who you rather have an inexperienced president or inexperienced Vice President?
I hear Mcain is going to the debate ,and bringing Gov. Palin along to read the e-mails.
Lucky Marbles: "With all the talk about "closed door meetings" and the Oxford debate . . .isn't this why we have a Congress at all? To debate things in public? Or is it just a show?"
If you have to ask, then you should already know the answer. Of course it's a show... some would say a circus. BO better bring the lickin'-stick tonight!
Honestly, if the slightest bit genuine, I can actually applaud McCain for the impulse to stop the presidential politics flailing to try to do real business. However the impulse happened to be a bad one in the bigger picture, and someone somewhere should have figured that out (okay, many people figured it out, just apparently nobody with any clout in McCain land, or just Mr. Maverick decided to do what he wanted--always a good quality in a president) that there was no way it would be remotely acceptable within the context of where we are right now. The campaigns have literally weeks left to run, and there has yet to be a side-by-side of the presidential candidates arguing their points. Not to mention if this debate had successfully been pushed back, that would have given Palin that much more time to "prepare" (if possible--anyone see her telling Katie Couric she'd need to go find the answers to Katie's question about McCain and get back to her? She doesn't even know the man who picked her, forget about national/global politics.) to try to somehow pretend she knows what she's talking about in the VP debate when pure sass can't carry her through and she needs to actually have a clue. The fact she doesn't have one is something many more people need to see, asap.
You have to give it to this journalist. Quite the "unbiased" story. NOT! Can't wait to see McCain explode to pieces on TV tonight.
Pass me the aspirin. The old geezer grandstands, again, and loses, again. Same old same old.
Dave24, you're not worthy to discuss this, when you use lame-ass talking points like the standard practice of voting present on legislation that is universally accepted, as is done in the Illinois state legislature. FInd some actually arguments that matter, but I know that's tough for members of the Repugnant Party.
LOL.. Stanley.. REAL debate.. LOL.. we wont see a real debate, the candidates already know the questions and will basically be reading from scripted answers.
heck, i would be half surprised to see if the media 'edits' it..
As for having a debate.. how about real town hall style debates.. where REAL people (not the phonies that both parties put up) get to ask the questions.. and they can be on ANY topic..
"there you go again"
Wait a minute ... the REPUBLICANS stage a revolt against Bush, McCain and Paulson ... renege on the bailout "agreement", and bring the whole thing to a standstill.
Bush invited both McCain and Obama for these talks ... Obama brings his economic advisor to the meeting, McCain brings his political strategist.
And the DEMOCRATS are playing politics ????
Black is white ... good is evil. Donkeys are Lions.
Mother of God, I can't wait for this coot (Cadaverik) to get landslided into defeat.
To Dave24
If you look at McCain's voting record, you'll see that he was marked as "NV" many times, which could mean "not voting, absent, excused or present." It's especially noticeable in his voting record on Foreign aid and poilicy issues, Energy issues and Business and consumer issues. Take a look and see for yourself (go to Votesmart.org).
Now? All of a sudden McCain is worried about the national financial crisis? Now? Right before the debate? He knows he's going to tank in a debate with Obama. His public speaking is not remarkable and he stumbles and stammers unscripted. Does anyone feel a pattern here? Yet, Bush still got elected. Let's not have that happen again...Obama is the CLEAR choice.
How about an intelligent man for president, that will tax the rich and the companies that are taking their business (and your jobs) overseas. The middle class has paid too much for too long. GO OBAMA!
Politics aside, it is clear NEITHER party is interested in solving this issue right now. Why? The election. You can see it on both sides of the aisle, from Republicans and Democrats, McCain to Obama. Folks, this has to stop! Let's get a petition going that offers these ego-maniacs a solution.......
Solve the problem and let BOTH parties declare victory. Problem is, both parties were asleep at the switch and refuse to acknowlege it.
So while Rome burns, Nero fiddles......it's happening again.
So, wait, it was an 11th hour GOP proposal that derailled the agreement and that is the Democrats' fault?? What a tool that man is. This is the same man who not 2 weeks ago said again (did someone hand him the wrong speech?) that the "fundamentals of the economy are strong", while the DJIA tumbled over 500 points. McCain was the one demanding he and Obama be included in this meeting.
Good. He should be at the debate. Acting like he was a white knight needed in Washington was so transparent. We need to hear from these candidates. The election is only a month and a half away.
How were Obama and McCain going to be of any use these stupid talks in Washington. Actually why were any of the CROOKS that made the mess there to clean it up,,,they will just make it worse. McCain does have some know how on such matters as he is one of the Cheating Keating 5. The American people deserve to know the names of those involved and they must be brought to justice. No, Mr. Bush not like you brought Osama bin Laden to justice, How many stones have you turned to look for him in the past 7 years? Bush turns out to be the biggest disaster in American history,,above nature. Worse than all the Hurricanes and Earthquakes in the last 8 years. Barbara Bush is The Mother Of All Idiots.
McCain professed to want to head back to DC in order to work with both parties & bring about a resolution, claiming he was the "ONE" that could bring about a bipartisan agreement. Now since it did not go as everyone in the world was expecting, (There was in fact Bipartisan Support in the Senate, & a majority until McCain showed up), All we are reading & hearing is he & his Campaign committee blaming the Democratic Party. You go McPalin! That's how to show your ability to work with both sides of the Aisle.
The reason the Republicans brought discussion to a stand still for asinine reasons is because they had to decide if putting off the debate would work in their favor. Since it's not working, now they'll work to get the solution. All that talk about having to act NOW was going right out the window if stalling a decision would keep McCain out of the debate and prove he was "right" to ask to postpone.
More lame tactics from the right that only blames the left or the media when it can't come back with facts to disprove what is being said about their behavior!
This move was right out of the Republican playbook. People have been complaining about McCain bailing out of the debate all week, and never for one minute was it real. This was so transparent and it seems like it fooled all of the networks and news agencies. Think about it. McCain says he needs to go and fix this economic crisis, so he takes a couple of days off and goes to Washington. He's hedging his bets that this would be resolved before the weekend. Then he puts on his cape and flies to the debate just in time looking like he just fixed a crisis and is going bravely back into battle. Complete nonsense. First the Palin world leader speed dating episode for photo ops this week and now this. The trickery has reached unprecedented levels. It's sad to think about how many decent Americans are being bamboozled.
I have been trying my level best to remain open before reaching a decision on who i will cast my vote for. Ordinarily I'm not certain until a day or two before casting my ballot. It looks like this is not going to happen this year.
I have absolutely lost all confidence in McCain. Starting with his making a hostage type choice in selecting Governor Palin. McCain and his committee should be ashamed of the way they are handling and protecting her from speaking anything close to what she might know. For all intensive purpose's they have dumbed her down. She's being treated as if she just disembarked off a UFO. This positively should fly in the face of all women who have fought hard and long to be treated as equals in todays society.
I could write another couple of paragraphs....................But I don't want to get my blood pressure any higher than where it is right now.........
WoW! So many people get really testy when "The Anointed One" is criticized!! Its also interesting to see how many people are engaging in age discrimination by hurling slurs against McCain's age that if, similar slurs were directed at "The Anointed One" would be seen as absolutely intolerable and probably would be deleted by the moderators.
Obama 2008 = Jimmy Carter 1976 = George McGovern 1972
Mc Cain was not invited to the talks....... he went.......Obama was invited, because
it was approprate to invited him with McCain show boating.....Being a baby boomer
this is the first election I have watched and read just about everything I could get
my hands on....McCain is old school......and Palin is country.....Barack Obama......
has been preparing for this his entire life.......he reads...... he studies.... he leaves
nothing to chance. If he hears it or is told it......He researches and then confirms
it's validity......before he forms his own opinion.........This world is in trouble...
McCains' own party doesn't like him......What do you think the rest of the world
leaders think of him? We need to think long and hard about the future....
I am saddened to see these comments so full of emotion. Clearly these readers need to step back for a minute, cool off and begin to think logically and base their conclusions on reason. It's also called critical thinking. Remember the whole reason we are in this mess is because of greed, lust, yearning and desire. Want instead of need. Emotions are dangerous and need to be kept in check. Of course with the weak schools and immediate gratification culture so much at the core of American Society I understand thinking critically and without emotion is nearly impossible for many Americans including readers of the The Globe.....
"News Flash" OBAMA BLEW IT" Well, well, well, the leadership that was so talked about went down the drain when Obama took over the meeting.It's the unexpected met the expected on Obamas part when the democrat leaders pass the mantle over to him conducting the meeting and what a meeting that was.Were they tried to showcase his skills probably were but it sure showcase his inability to meet what is expected of him.They (Democrat leaders) called the meeting so Mr Barrack Obama can convince America he can handle crisis but got caught in their own trap because he simply doesn't know what to say and what to do when the going gets tough and the tough gets going.There America there is your Democrat Presidential candidate that jumped too soon while the traffic is still heavy and what a sad ending when he was ran over by a speedy vehicle he did not see.The lesson here is INEXPERIENCE does not help at all.
When is the media going to stop reporting spin as fact? The news feed from the McCain camp on his participation/role in the bailout is nothing short of a joke.
JIMMY CARTER
BILL CLINTON
BARACK OBAMA
ENUF SAID
OBAMA = JIMMY CARTER
WEAK ON FOREIGN POLICY, AND AS LEFT AS THEY GET.
McCain to his credit as a fighter pilot type recognized the desperation in the polls this week so he pulled out a trick, he had done the same when the convention threatened to stagnate. To his credit he recognizes and reacts to danger. To his discredit he makes seat-of-the-pants choices that only help in the short-term and create problems down the road.
Anything can happen in the debates, it's like baking the cake that we've been mixing all these months. I hope Obama demonstrates the clear thinking we all think he has.
McCain has been well to stave off the statistical factors that through history have led to most candidates's defeats 1) bad economy, need a change 2) incumbent party in power for 8 years, need a change
Sarah Palin allocated $13MM to repair coastline erosion in Inuit villages from global warming but fails to recognize the human cause, in spite of glacier erosion, forest fires, and polar bear endangerment in her state. She deals with effects but doesn't recognize causes. It's like the Russians invading and her applying for additional housing... haha
Like you Socialists really care what McCain says anyway? Cmon, you are so transparent. You voted Carter Dukakis Clinton Kerry now Obama. Like you could give a darn what McCain says.
Cmon, at least be honest. Your left wing minds are not open.
I think McCain deserves applause for having his priorities straight.
Just look at where the news is coming from,NBC,MSNBC All Liberal left wingers who do nothing but lie and distort the truth. They should not call themseves jouralist but trash newspaer men. They swayed me to vote for McCain and Palin
because of all the lies and trashing of Sarah. Ihope all of MSNBS & NBS & The CEO of General Electric choke on their words
Reguardless of Political Party our Leaders in Washington are paid to resolve this crisis. Please stop slinging mud at each other and unify for a solution! Then, here is an idea: Both sides get credit for putting their differences aside and helping our country.
I am Republican but I think Obama and Biden are good people and fine Americans. My vote will be for McCain and Palin but whoever wins the election I will stand behind 100%. The opportunity to vote is a privilege and we need both Political Slants to keep ourselves fair and balanced. All the hatred is getting old. People in these blogs take things so personal while demonizing the views of others. Remember, Politicians are generally good people and have families. Far too often their families get the brunt of continual vicious attacks. As Americans we should be better than that don´t you think?
While I may not agree with Obama politically, I like him as a person and a professional. Both men would make a good president in my opinion. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO RESPECTFULLY DISAGREEING? Don´t be so cut-throat people! Your opinion does matter, please do it respectfully and God Bless!
Rev. Foster
McCain so far has played the high road and should be commended for staying on a bipartisan path and not playing the blame game. If I was running .... I'd be blasting idiots like Barney Frank and other dems in congress for getting us into this mess. They're the ones who refused move forward on GOP sponsored legislation to reform Freddy and Fannie in 2003. It was Frank who claimed Fanny and Freddie were sound just a few months ago. In fact it was the dems that pushed for loosening the restrictions on mortgages (community reinvestment act) so that more people could borrow $ they knew they could never pay back. Hey ...just spin your house for a a gain before the arm kicks in! Who cares if you can't make that high payment. What's next ... the Fed bailing out those who loose their life saving in Las Vegas? I'm sick and tired of democratic entitlement programs. The Fed is not our financial backstop.
ALL I CAN SAY IS FOR ALL YOU HATERS OUT THERE WHO DON'T EVEN KNOW THIS MAN GIVE HIM A CHANCE. BARACK HAS COME A LONG WAY TO BACK DOWN NOW DUE TO ALL THE HARSH AND CRUEL COMMENTS. YOU CAN'T KNOCK HIM UNTIL YOU HEAR HIM OUT. HE'S NOT THAT BAD OF A PERSON LIKE EVERYONE CALLS HIM OUT TO BE. JUST THINK ABOUT IT THIS WAY, DOES AMERICA REALLY WANT ANOTHER 8 YEARS OF THE SAME BS THAT WE'VE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH. GIVE THE MAN A CHANCE FOR GODS SAKE!!!!!
I'm still waiting of him to just admit he's tired and want's to make the early bird special down at the Merrimack Restaurant, then have a nice cup of tea before retiring in one of his wife's mansions.
Journalism in dead!!! People, please do not believe everything you read.
Mary--what is it about a $700 billion government bank bailout that doesn't scream SOCIALISM to you?? So--giving veterans decent benefits or paying for roads, schools, or libraries is Socialist to you, but sinking trillions of dollars into an absurd war or bailing out a bunch of billionaire banker screw-ups is what...pure market economics? Ayn Rand tough-guy conservatism? Erm...I don't think so.
McCain showing up in Washington to "help" with the bailout plan is like flying to New Orleans after Katrina with a teaspoon and a sandpail. It's like "well, thanks, John--with all of your well-touted economic expertise, I'm sure you'll be a great help." The McCain supporters on here sound desperate and confused and I can't say that I blame them. Enjoy the debate, folks.
# 52 NATASHA
The argument of 8 yrs isn't the point and doesn't reveal the truth about the ability of a candidate to handle crisis if he become president.The nation just witness yesterday the lack of leadership skills and incapable of Barrack Obama to control and conduct that meeting and bring all of them that were in that room to agree to the Democrat proposal and seal the $700.00billion dollar deal.Now how is he going to be successful meeting with China and other powerful nation that live their lives on making deals on how to trade,this is his test but he fail it.
To all you jaded Obama lovers out there, I challenge you all to name ONE thing, not THREE things, Obama has done in his career that resulted in positive change and was in some way a risk to his success.
I feel Obama/Biden are more unqualified than McCain/Palin are qualified. There is no perfect person for the job, but when applying for the most prestigious job in the world, you should be able to point to ONE THING on your resume that supports you can handle it. Lots of people graduate from Harvard Law, and it's real easy to side with your party 97% of the time. I want someone that goes against the grain because they believe in themself. McCain/Palin '08.
Political Intelligence is at the top of this page!
What a contradiction in terms there.
skmj, you're back and even crazier and more stupid than ever! It was McCain who couldn't offer anything at that meeting, because he "didn't know what the House Republicans were looking for".......GET A GRIP! Keep your nasty uniformed comments to yourself. Your ignorance is definitely showing!
I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.....
If you grow up in Hawaii , raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different."
Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, a quintessential American story.
If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.
Name your kids Willow , Trig and Track, you're a maverick.
Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.
Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.
If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works, and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.
If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with fewer than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive and next in line behind a man in his eighth decade.
If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.
If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and then left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a true Christian.
If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.
If, while governor, you staunchly advocate "abstinence only", with no other option in sex education in your state's school system, all while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.
If your wife is a Harvard-graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America 's.
If your husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DUI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA , your family is extremely admirable.
OK, much clearer now.
McCain is in a good position now to come to Mississippi and slam Obama and the democrats for supporting a plan that most of the American people rightly see as Wall Street trying to loot our treasury. Wall Street played chicken with the Federal Government and Obama, Bush, and the Democratic Congress blinked. Let's see that crash now. Come on, let's see it. The fact is that most Americans could give a rats ass if Wall Street crashes and they aren't able to buy on credit anymore. So what? People, businesses and governments need to be able to live life without always being in debt to others. Freedom means being able to say no.
Sarah- Did I say I was in favor of a bailout? The DEMOCRATS lied to the press --btw-- about having this done. The Republicans hate the idea of a bailout. Get it straight.
Obama saying "Call me if you need me" is NOT leadership. he couldnt make a tough decision if the ECONOMY depended on it.
I don't want Obama. I won't vote for him. I've been rooting for McCain -- despite my reservations; but during the last 2 weeks McCain has made me cringe. It's as if his mind is unraveling. Suspends his campaign and wants to cancel the debate; instead of just announcing he's staying in Washington, he basically asked Obama for permission to back out. Obama said, "No." Now, McCain has left D.C. and is headed to the debate. It is positively painful to watch. Since I refuse to vote for Obama (his flat line emotions, his egotism, and his unbridled ambition suggest he is a narcissistic sociopath), I'll just have to vote for the incompetent. Terrible.
Like you Socialists really care what McCain says anyway? Cmon, you are so transparent. You voted Carter Dukakis Clinton Kerry now Obama. Like you could give a darn what McCain says.
Cmon, at least be honest. Your left wing minds are not open.
Posted by Mary Cranston September 26, 08 01:44
--Maybe you should open your mind alittle Mary Cranston...have you not seen what the Bush Administration has done??...its almost a joke that 50% of this country still continues to support these guys...they say anything and do everything to get in power and then do whatever they want when they get in there and dont care what people think...and then the cycle continues, wake up!
Reading a speach prepared by a professional political speech writer is different from speaking without notes or a prompter. Listening to Governor Palin answering Katie Couric questions last night was like listening to my twelve year niece struggling to explain a point to me - - the choice of words, the incomplete sentences, contardictions in thinking, the quality of reasoning and the tangents taken in answering simple questions was awful especially taking into account of her age and title that she holds in Alaska.
I have not been to Alaska and I don't know many Alaskans but I would like to believe that Sarah Palin represents the average (middle) third Alaskans and there is a third out there who are much smarter or intelligent than their Governor. The deeds, actions and choices of man/woman are a reflection of his/ her thinking. I can now do understand what has caused Sarah to adopt certain positions on social and political issues.
I fully realize the voters' lack of interest on candidates who are smart, intelligent or who appear to be intellectual. And in this regard, it appears to me that among the three men and a woman who are currently contesting for the highest office in the land, Sarah should be the most favorite. However, I would like to urgue that upon putting her into office, the nation is to take take a huge insurance against potential poor policies and decisions that she may make. Otherwsise, all tax payers regardless of political affiliation, should be ready to take reponsibility in bailing out the nation against any major blunders.
and it's real easy to side with your party 97% of the time. I want someone that goes against the grain because they believe in themself. McCain/Palin '08.
Posted by Len September 26, 08 03:14
...And I guess McCain voting 90% with Bush is really going against the grain huh LEN haha
and it's real easy to side with your party 97% of the time. I want someone that goes against the grain because they believe in themself. McCain/Palin '08.
Posted by Len September 26, 08 03:14
...And I guess McCain voting 90% with Bush is really going against the grain huh LEN haha
Sarah Palin would most likely become our president within a couple of years if McCain were to win the election. Shouldn't all arguments about Obama and his supposed lack of experience become obsolete?
skmj it was McCain that asked for the meeting not McCain. How out of touch can you be or are you delusional. It blew up in McCains face, he was going to get the sides to agree on a plan. Did He? He was going to stay in washington until a deal was done, remember he said this was too important, they should lock themselves up for 100 hours until a deal is done. Those are his words. No deal is done,he didn´t lock himself up with the congress for 100 hours until it was finished and he is going to the debate. He looks rediculous. What a joke, he thinks he is the american savior or better yet he wants us to think he is the savior. I love people like you that blog and don´t know what they are talking about. That´s why he fools you.
If the way McCain handeled this is any indication on what we can expect the next 4 years with him in office then I think it is very clear who the next president shouldn't be.
I personally find it enlightening to watch the republicans crack under the strain of their own ideology. If anything their strength the last decade has been in their ability to spin their argument to make it appear like making the wealthy more money somehow benefits us as a whole. Now they can't decide which way is up since the best choice out of a host of bad options is in blantant contrast to their core principles. Ultimately, their argument is being exposed for what it really is: keeping their friends rich by any means necessary.
Will the Big O be able to articulate his health care plan this time, or will it be another two minute nonsensical bumblefest ?
McCain was a no vote in 109 out of the last 110 Senate votes. Then, suddenly McCain, who only a few months ago said he didn't know a lot about economics since he is a armed services expert, announces that he must t rush to Washington and save the country from certain disaster. Who buys that? He was grandstanding, playing his I-love-America-more-than-Obama, get me out of this debate, let me use the veep debate slot so I can keep Palin from further displaying her lack of knowledge card. Now that he responded to the 86 percent of Americans polled who thought it was wrong not to have a debate and agreed to go on with the show, stop and listen. Then look up his record. See hoe many times he has shifted with the wind. Then count up Palin's lies (no other word for them) and decide if this is who should lead us out of the Bush disaster.
# 59 mb
Listen you pig,you seems to oink,oink, at some of the comments I make on differrent articles in this blogg.You have your free speech I have mine but I don't attack you but you attack me is that how you learn what your candidate of choice is doing by attacking me.You need focus on him not me because you are wasting your time and your screwup brain trying to stop me.
Question to those supporting McCain: How is it you can support McCain after his involvement in the Keating 5? You remember, the S&L crisis in '89, hundreds of thousands of people lost their life savings. McCain protected the criminal Keating, while he let U.S. citizens lose their life savings. Please explain to us how you can support such a candidate. Do it now. While you're at it, since republicans claim to support our troops, how you can vote for McCain when his voting record on our troops and veterans is so awful that veterans groups give McCain a grade of "D" on his voting record. That "D" as in one step away from "F" for failure. Explain yourself now. And if you can't give a concrete reason why you would even think to vote for someone who is a criminal and who does not support our armed forces, then don't vote at all.
If you can point to at least 5 stories published in any of the 'liberal rag sheets' over the past 19 MONTHS that address Obama's questionable associations to people like Bill Ayers, Jeremiah Wright, Tony Rezko or Sam Graham-Felsen then some republicans might respect your views. If you can't see how ONE-SIDED the media reporting has been then there's no hope.
Tonight will prove to everyone that Obama is just the man who fit the suit, nothing more.
Hey Wayne, no need to worry about what to expect with McCain for the next four years. At least you concede he's going to win.
MB,
Sorry dude, you are 100% wrong about this statement. It was your goon candidate Obama. Stop your lies!
"It was McCain who couldn't offer anything at that meeting, because he "didn't know what the House Republicans were looking for"
Wow, what anger from the Republicans on this thread - I guess it's hard to see your candidates going down in flames because people are finally questioning the artless lies of the right.
Face it, McCain is a greedy rich anti-regulatory sell-out, who will do anything to get elected. He knows and cares little about the struggles of the average American because he dumped his sick wife for a sugar mama who got her weath from Daddy. He has a hairpin trigger and makes stupid gambling decisions. I would be very scared for our country and the rest of the world if he was elected. His VPchoice makes his ticket even less savoury, if possible. I absolutely cannot believe that anyone would watch her interviews, read about how she is willfully saboutaging an investigation where she "has nothing to hide" (yes, back to the Cheney future), among other things and still feel okay voting for her. It is simply unbelievable.
On the other hand, we have a thoughtful, intelligent, well-educated man who has pulled himself up from a difficult, poor childhood and has devoted most of his career to public service. Even having less "experience" Obama has consistently promoted the correct position on Iraq, on the economy, on healthcare because he thinks. I'm more for someone who can think and provide leadership on tough issues, rather than an old windbag who obtained his Senate seat from his wife's fianances, and proceeded to have a 26 year career distinguished via nothing other than the Keating 5 scandal ...
Why is the junior senator from Illinois addressing the 22 year senator from Arizona by his first name?
Obama was disrespectful (if that is a word that non-african americans can say in a free country these days) to Senator McCain thougout the entire debate. Obama is so accustomed to his one man dog and pony show he could hardly refrain from interrupting Senator McCain thoughout the night.
Even though I think McCain has a better handle on security (and no one will care about it until we have another 9/11 it seems) and has chosen a running mate that has a history of shaking up the status quo, lets face it, a good majority of Americans want a black president, regardless of the fate that it will mean to this country. If Obama had a different set of parents, with his far left, extremist views and associates, he would never be standing on the same stage with Senator McCain. He's there for a reason, but it is certainly not because he is qualified to run this country, or that he loves this country. It's just part of the downfall of America, just part of the plan. Too bad.
In a few weeks we will make a choice that will decide our future.
I follow an economist named Bob Proctor. He has called the top and bottom of every market crash since the 70s correctly.
Also, he perfectly predicted the current real estate market meltdown and the picture he paints about what will happen in the next couple years
is terrifying.He thinks it will be worse then the great depression.
The banks in the U.S. are going under one after the other. Countrywide the largest morgage bank in the world,Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch which are 3 out of the top 5 wall street firms. Also, Fanny and Freddy Mae which hold 50 percent of the home loans in the United States.
The government took them over because they are essentially bankrupt.If they didn't the entire financially system would virtually shut down, the stock market would crash and we would suffer beyond what any of us have seen before.
McCain just like Bush " doesn't understand the economy".
That not just my opinion its his own words. Not only does he not understand how to fix it but he does not understand exactly what is broken.
It is no surprise that he doesn't. The people that make up these securities use complex mathematical models very few people understand.
Bush and McCain both can take the credit for this mess since they helped deregulate the laws that were protecting us.
Bush's economic advisor Phil Graham wrote the deregulation bill that allowed banks to take huge risks with all of our future.
Now, Phil Graham is the head of McCain's economic policy.He is also McCain's choice for the next secretary of the treasury.
No one in this country can afford for that to happen. The last time Bush met with his economic advisors was in March. He either didn't care or didn't realize that anything was wrong. Phil Graham had the guts to say that we are in a mental recession after he helped create the worst economy meltdown in our lifetime.
It will take the best and brightest minds in the world to get us out of this nightmare. As bad as Bush has done, McCain would be
even more destructive because things are in much worse shape. The next president will not inherit a surplus like Bush did but a tanking economy and a 11,600,000,000,000 (trillion) dollars deficit. Most of it Bush created and it will take decades to pay it back.
If you do what you have always done then you will get what you have always got.
When it comes to policy Bush and McCain are the same 90 percent of the time.
So why are the polls even close then ?
The chairman of McCains campaign recently said that people don't vote on issues they vote on a personality composite. Which means he is trying to sell you personality instead of results.
He believes people will vote against their own interests.
Let's teach him we are smarter than that .
Hold them accountable NOW! while it will still help.
Elect Obama Biden 2008
With Obama having done so poorly against Hillary Clinton in the primary debates, why on earth would "most voters" expect Barack to beat McCain? I don't buy it. But it's all speculation under the bridge now. McCain offered a stark contrast last night with Obama- McCain the guy with an immeasurable wealth of experience & wisdom against Obama's Leftward "professorial" theories.
“ Obama gets The McCain beat down in debate”
No doubt Obama camp is happy they kept lowering expectations for his debate performance because Obama got his clock cleaned by John McCain who kept the young inexperienced candidate looking immature and childish talking in circles. All Obama could do was interrupt with bogus claims of "lying" and looks of frustration and despair. (Not a good performer, unless someone writes a pre-written speech for Obama to study or read on teleprompter) On Iraq and all else, Obama keeps looking to the past instead of the future? Where’s the change Obama? McCain understands the next president has to look to the future and secure not only victory but also stabilizing a fledgling democracy. Obama kept up his all season stupid rhetoric, the war was wrong, the war is wrong, I’m black that makes me qualified to be president!
Especially since he stupidly picked 30 years in Washington, pro war supporter Biden (whose son is a lobbyist) as VP. Slapping the face of 18 million democratic voters, who David Axelrod said he don’t need. Again proves Obama is unstable and does not have the experience to make important decisions or have control over this great country.
Obama said seven times or more that he agreed with McCain. That’s good for McCain because when McCain is President Obama can work with him to get needed reforms through a failed Congress. McCain displayed a thorough knowledge of world affairs. Obama did not! And talked in circles and really had no coherent thoughts other than his main talking points from his pre-written campaign speech.
Bottom line; Obama got “ The McCain beat down” only because of the lowered expectations Obama just barely got across the finish line. Obama definitely finished dead last. No surprise we all know Obama is not good on his feet, as Hillary wiped the floor with him 20 plus times! Bottom line McCain had a great night while Obama is going home licking his wounds. Of course you can expect to hear the tabloid cable news , better known as Obama News Networks CNN & MSNBC media made fairy tales, that he was great, too bad for CNN that voters finally realized these two Obama news networks are not very truthful and bias. They offer voters looking for facts…NOTHING…
jose
I agree. Obama won this debate, without any question.
There is such a disproportion between calling McCain to task for wanting to enter a senseless and terribly costly war and quibbling that Obama did not take five minutes to explain that if he met with rogue leaders, he would make the appropriate preparations beforehand. By now, we know Obama and it is obvious that any meeting would be very carefully undertaken.
McCain sounded old and tired. He had no attack on any substance of what Obama has done and said. So, he thought that all he had to do was repeat "He doesn't understand." Does he think that we, the American people are such dolts that then we will repeat to ourselves "He doesn't understand." --McCain said it, so it must be true because he had a military career. Ridiculous.
Obama has shown powerful qualities as a true leader and can take on McCain easily on his suposed area of strength --foreign policy. McCain is a hothead. Go ahead and whine about earmarks --while spending trillions on a pointless war that undermines the Afgahan war and so, puts America at risk. Obama's earmarks would be for worthwhile programs that will help people.
Obama demonstrated a much stronger grasp of all topics. He showed a solid and reasoned position on every point.
Obama will be the greatest president the U.S. has ever had.
If people vote in McCain, I will not get upset. I will just take it as total comedy and laugh my head off every time Palin opens her mouth, just as I did when she was last interviewed and thought that being in physical proximity to foreign countries is the equivalent of having knowledge of and experience in foreign affairs.
McCain and Palin are such swaggerers and so dishonest.
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