You mean, other than Obama-Luger and other bipartisan pieces of legislation, right Jack? Congress could use both of them there, but honestly the country can chew bubblegum and walk at the same time. The debates should go on, even if the venue is moved to DC to better accomodate their legislative needs.

McCain probably wants to duck away from the inevitable debate question: Do you still support deregulation?

This is our newest "October Surprise". Most people are opposed to the Wall Street Bailout while 9800 households are foreclosed daily and it does nothing to help those at the bottom.

McCain can go to the Senate (I don't think he's cast a vote since last April) to claim the high "Presidential" ground on this issue that the Republicans created. McCain will point at Obama as the follower and then vote against the bill. Again, McCain'll exploit the opportunity it to claim "Maverick" status.

Congress should postpone their vacation and spend the time needed to pass the foreclosure prevention bill FIRST.

If these companies are guilty of fraud, they should use the RICO statutes and it won't cost the taxpayers a penny.

Anything that's "too big to fail" shouldn't exist. That's why we have anti-monopoly laws--it's past time they were enforced.

So, Mr. Roberts, now McCain wants to go to work. Now?

Your short, knarled, angry, old, confused candidate, McSame, missed more votes in the Senate than anyone except the Minnesota guy in the coma.

Check dat fact, Jack.

Senator Obama, I can't make it to the debate because my dog ate my Teleprompter.

Senator Obama, I can't make it to the debate because my dog ate my Teleprompter.

Actually, McCain was simply acting on the advise of Bush and Cheney, but got confused about the wording: the actual message he received was "John, I think it would be be to suspend the Constitution".

McCain continues to show the instability and poor judgment that does not instill public confidence or befit a future commander in chief. We saw this in the Palin selection and now this.

But a clever political move nonetheless:

1. It removes from tonight's newscasts the NYT story today on McCain's Campaign Manager Rick Davis receiving payments from Freddie Mac until last month. So much or McCain's invitation to examine his record!

2. It shifts the focus away from all the polls coming out in the last day or two suggesting an Obama surge.

3. It buys more time for Palin to prepare for her debate against Biden since this could result in the rescheduling of that debate as well.

Very clever indeed. But as we learned with Bush/Rove, disguised political cleverness does not equate with wisdom or real leadership.

Debate? Good lord, we shouldn't even be having an ELECTION during WARTIME.

If Jack is right, and we should look at McCain's record, we will realize he is against government regulations. Always has been, always ... ummmmm ... I feel a flip-flop coming here. Either that, or McCain maintains his prinicipled no regulation stand, which does not require campaign suspension. It simply requires a "No" vote. That shouldn't take all day!

Word on the radio is the Dems want McCain to vote in agreement with any proposal he makes. He has to have his skin in the game if he wants to play. He's blinking. Maybe Sarah can help him with this decision. She probably already "knows" what to do.

PS - McCain's bailout of the debate sounds like another one of those "We have to support the President" call-to-arms. So why is he not like Bush? It sounds like he prefers Bush to lead more then he wants to take that role himself. Obama has shown himself to be deliberate in this matter. McCain has been decisive, making new decisions several times a day, even if they contradict each other.

"Senator Obama, I can't make it to the debate because my dog ate my Teleprompter.

... or perhaps a moose ate his notes.

"WASHINGTON — Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Wednesday said global financial markets were under "extraordinary stress" and threatening an already weak U.S. economy as he offered his bleakest outlook since a credit crisis set in last year."

Im sorry but the debates are much more important than this economy stuff...besides we don't understand it anyway. We just need to pass some tax increases - being patriotic - to pay for this bailout...the bailout we'll figure out after the important stuff, like debates.

Warren Buffet (Obama's man) is talking about a "financial Pearl Harbor". If it is, then every congressman should go to work (and IMO correct a mistake they made).

If Obama thinks he can multi-task a campaign with a financial PH then he either doesn't get it or doesn't need to get it because Buffet is in charge financially.

Comparing moving a debate a few days with stopping an election is, well rather a stretch, no?

Regarding, F/F. Is Team Obama really saying that F/F bought McCain by hiring Davis, but contributing to campaigns doesn't buy a politician? Really? Obama must have a lot of faith in his ability to get his faithful follower to believe what he wants them to believe.

Both are bought, one more than the other, as everyone knows which candidate frequents parties with former F/F execs.

If presidential debates were soooo important to this country Team Obama should have accepted the 10 townhall challenge from Team McCain.

Funny that Obama is supporting Bush on this bailout while very few Republican's support Bush's bailout.

I say get to work, let the debate slid a day or two.

"My friends, my friends, I haven't got a clue on how to rescue my losing campaign so it's time to punt, my friends"

As I watched this unfold today, I was struck by several facts. 1. Obama contacted McCain earlier today (privately, not over the airwaves) to propose a joint statement on the financial crisis. 2. McCain responded publicly that he wants the debate suspended. 3. McCain is not a member of the Senate Committee currently dealing with the legislation being proposed re: the bailout.

I conclude, from these facts, that 1) McCain does not trust his colleagues working on the legislation; 2) McCain attempted a public outing, of sorts, by proposing cancelling the debate publicly instead of privately; 3) McCain thinks/knows he is in trouble in this race for President and is pretending to take the so-called "high road"--fortunately, Sen. Obama held his ground and the debate will go on (I guess).

Just as an aside, it struck me that McCain displayed no regard for the University of Mississippi and its community by calling for a last-minute cancellation of the debate. While I do not discount the seriousness of the financial situation facing Washington (& all of us), neither his nor Obama's presence in Washington is required on Friday evening.

Just some observations....

Such a deal! McCain gets to call time-out when he's behind and refuse to resume play. Not gonna debate, not gonna let Palin debate. Aw heck... What a man, what a leader!

Colorado McCain Staffer Accidentally Leaks Talking Points To Reporters

Jack Roberts wrote:

What's the big deal?

How about: McCain campaign outlines "suspended campaign" campaign.

Maybe instead of a debate they could both be waterboarded for a couple of hours on live TV. Find out what they're really made out of.

McCain is not afraid of debating Obama.

Yes, if McCain is going to cut and run from the debates, then Palin must step in and the VPs can debate on Friday.

I mean, McCain says that she's a foreign policy and energy expert...so should be no problem. It's not like Palin is busy holding press conferences or responding to subpoenas, so she's got time.

Sheryl, thanks for this: "Just as an aside, it struck me that McCain displayed no regard for the University of Mississippi and its community by calling for a last-minute cancellation of the debate. While I do not discount the seriousness of the financial situation facing Washington (& all of us), neither his nor Obama's presence in Washington is required on Friday evening."

As the sister of an audiovisual technician at a convention hotel in another state, I can just imagine what a logistical nightmare it would be to postpone this debate. The auditorium has been reserved for months (meaning nothing else could happen there that night, it would just be empty), the networks and local news outlets have been planning coverage for a long time and are advertising "tune in on Friday..", the technicians and everyone else have been scheduled to work Friday night, people who have tickets to be in the audience (esp. students or those who work odd hours in retail, medicine, or other occupations which are not 9-5) have arranged their schedules, the town and college hosting such an event has done a lot of planning, and then all of a sudden this happens? As someone said, it is unlikely Congress would be voting at 9pm Friday, and jet planes were invented for just such situations.

McCain has not yet (to my knowledge) spoken on the details of the bailout plan. Yet with something like 60 hours left, he wants to throw a monkeywrench into the plans of all those people involved just to make a political statement/ gamble / gambit/ political theater?

Is he sending a message that if elected president he will act on whim and not care how it affects the lives of others?

Does he think every resident of Miss. who had planned to attend the debate or watch on local TV will be more likely to vote for him if he bails at the last minute? Or isn't he thinking that far ahead?

Only 10% support McCain's cut-and-run flight from the debate:

Americans Want Debate to Go On Just after Sen. John McCain's announcement this afternoon that he was suspending his campaign and seeking to postpone Friday's schedule presidential debate, SurveyUSA interviewed 1,000 adults nationwide.

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/09/24/americans_want_debate_to_go_on.html

Americans Want Debate to Go On Key findings: "A majority of Americans say the debate should be held. Just 10% say the debate should be postponed. A sizable percentage of Americans, 36%, think the focus of the debate should be modified to focus more on the economy. 3 of 4 Americans say the presidential campaign should continue. Just 14% say the presidential campaign should be suspended. If Friday's debate does not take place 46% of Americans say that would be bad for America."

My friends, I've never told you this, but I was a POW in Vietnam, and that makes me uniquely qualified to <s>run for president</s> <s>break my commitments</s> posture about my economic credentials.

johnnie, my friend, the reason we've got GOP congressmen denouncing the bailout isn't because they actually believe any of the garbage they spout about free markets. No, my friend, they want the Democrats to get suckered once again into cutting a deal with Dubya, and then they're going to spend the last month of the campaign running against BOTH Dubya (who they've otherwise slavishly supported) AND the Democrats.

Looks like part of the gambit here is to cancel altogether on the VP debate according to this:

Marc Ambinder-http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/09/mccains_bottom_line_no_deal_no.php "The aide did not know whether Gov. Palin would attend Oct. 2's vice presidential debate if Congress, by that point, still hasn't reached a deal."

Based on her performance in two softball interviews with Charlie Gibson and Katy Couric, I'm betting her fund of knowledge is so low she's not ready for prime time, despite her crash course these past two weeks from Wingnut U.

Why is KC Hanson posting on this blog?

http://blueoregonwhistleblower.blogspot.com/

Kari: I hate it when you skewer me, even gently. But I sure do enjoy it when you do it to others. :)... that was the perfect nightcap.

G'night.

What if McCain had picked Kay Bailey Hutchison? Or Kristi Todd Whitman? Or even Condi?

They would not need a crash course at Wingnut U, that's for sure, and each one of them has handled hundreds, if not thousands, of media interviews. Any one of them would be ready to step in and speak for the Rs in a debate.

McCain and Gordo sinking like stones in Oregon: Merkley up 44-42, Obama up by 11, 52-41 ( The Obama numbers are consistent with polls by Hibbitts and ARG, Pollster.com has an average at 50-41 in Oregon for Obama) From SUSA pollster: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/25/12623/8182/514/609680

Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) has hemorrhaged support since midsummer in his tough battle for re-election against state Speaker Jeff Merkley (D), according to a new automated poll conducted for Roll Call and KATU-TV by SurveyUSA.

In a survey of 708 likely voters conducted Monday and Tuesday of this week, Smith was statistically tied with Merkley, trailing the Democrat 44 percent to 42 percent, with 6 percent undecided. Constitution Party candidate Dave Brownlow registered at 8 percent. Back in early August, Smith led Merkley 49 percent to 37 percent in a SurveyUSA poll.

"The contest today is effectively even," said the polling memo prepared by SurveyUSA, which referred to the race as "difficult to handicap."

In the presidential race, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) led Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) by 11 points, 52 percent to 41 percent.

Like you think this would have happened without this nudge from McCain?

Jack Roberts seems to have drunk the McCain koolaid. That's too bad. Jack, it's not a good idea to attach your credibility to McCain's right now. Your best bet is to let the more, um, unlikely statements from his campaign pass without comment. Agreeing with them makes you look naive or dishonest.

Perhaps John McCain should return to Washington to help with the economy. He has gotten it wrong so many times maybe the law of averages will kick in and he'll get it right this time - even if he doesn't know what the hell he is doing.

And ditto on Bert Lowry's post.

Let's take up a collection to send our own Republican hero, Jack Roberts, to DC to help Bush, Beardo and the Bald One save Amerikka!!!

From itself.

And I notice Jack did not defend McCain's putrid Senate voting record, the worst record of all, except for the guy who was in a coma in Minnesota.

If McCain had actualy worked for his Senate check, instead of banging creepy Cindy on the jet, we might not be in the biggest financial mess since 1929.

Didn't you hear Sarah Palin tell Katie Couric that America is waiting with baited breath to hear what McCain has to say on the economy? She's half right, America is wondering which contradictory and inflammatory statement McCain will make. He's pivote so many times in the last week and a half he must be standing on a lazy Susan. "The economy is fundamentally strong, the economy is cratering, I support the bail-out, I haven't read it yet, fire Cox!" McCain's bailed out of the debate so he can go have a photo op at the White House and declare that he's bipartisan for supporting a bill that the Dems have hammered out while he was on the road pretending to be the Red Queen, off with their heads!

I wonder if Palin would consider to stop using the phrase 'baited breath'. It's kind of not a necessary phrase to use in a professional conversation - especially when running for VP.

Personally, I'm waiting with bated breath to see what sort of bait Palin is using :-)

I think he more than made up for this by flying into Washington, D.C. and apparently getting bipartisan approval for the McCain Plan to break the grdlock on this critical issue.

This is from Think Progress:

"Cornyn responded by bristling that McCain was swooping in at the last minute and trying to take over:

Things got really heated when Cornyn accused McCain of being too busy campaigning for president to take part in the negotiations, which have gone on for months behind closed doors. “Wait a second here,” Cornyn said to McCain. “I’ve been sitting in here for all of these negotiations and you just parachute in here on the last day. You’re out of line.” […]

“[Expletive] you! I know more about this than anyone else in the room,” shouted McCain at Cornyn."

It appears that his fellow senators (except maybe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham) weren't too happy with McCain's supersenator act. The rest of the article is here here.

Yup, Jacko's McCain, didn't even READ the three-page plan to save America.

I got the "Amerikkka" tag from the 78 percent of America that says Bush sucks.

Yup, W leaves office in worse shape, politically, than Nixon.

Cue the helicopter! Cue the big wave!

Add the way pro-McCain comments above have been shot down to this pathetic choice he made for vice president and it is clearly time for McCain to not only suspend his campaign for president but to end it.

As for the networks it looks like Katie Couric has more guts and journalistic integrity than Charlie Gibson and Brian Williams combined.

I may be duplicating up-thread comments, but I appreciated the comments from the old guys around the breakfast cafe this morning.

[Cue: chicken clucking sound]

Just because McCain can't read right now (you know, the eye problem) doesn't mean he can't save our economy single handedly, he's more than a hero, he's a superhero.

@ Jack Roberts Your guy went into the photo op meeting at the WH and sabotaged it, Jack. Your party is in civil war, and as Pat Buchanan says it( one of the rare times I agree with him) "McCain is boxed in." He injected himself into this deal and now he's screwed it up.

Your guy is losing his PR gambit by his cowardly withdrawal from the debate and his fake "suspension" of the campaign. Notice who has the lower confidence level to lead in a crisis. Your guy..

Here's Survey USA's follow up poll today. http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=5e756118-0e6c-4a5e-a5e4-6080de9dab6a

3 of 4 Americans say the Friday debate should be held on Friday. 23% today Thursday say the debate should be postponed, up from 10% yesterday Wednesday.

3 of 4 Americans say presidential campaigning should continue.Just 16% say presidential campaigning should be suspended, largely unchanged from Wednesday.

60% of Americans have No Confidence in President Bush's ability to lead during these economic times. 50% have No Confidence in John McCain's ability to lead during these economic times. 43% have No Confidence in Barack Obama's ability to lead during these economic times.

Jack Roberts sez:"The stock market rallied today after it appeared an agreement had been reached. If things still look bleak when the NYSE opens tomorrow morning, expect the market to drop precipitously which may succeed in getting some people to sharpen their focus."

The stock market? Isn't that the outfit run by the boys who hate the idea of low unemployment? Who love a weak dollar to try to drive up US exports (even though it makes my foreign vacation, and yours, dreadfully expensive)? Who've concocted about a zillion and one ways to make money for themselves by trading "paper" rather than actually producing anything tangible? Damn, if we can't win the confidence of those boys, we truly are fucked.

@ Jack Roberts

More evidence that your guy went to the meeting to scuttle it today. http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/219819.php

Country first.. eh... But now he gets to avoid having to debate Obama. Such a courageous soul.

Mister Roberts,

Please.

This $700,000,000,000 "plan" is NOT a bailout.

The Rethuglicans who got us into this mess are calling it a "rescue".

Get your talking points straight. McCain's boys are slinging them all over the Internet, by accident, since, like their boss, they do not understand how to use e-mail.

http://washingtonindependent.com/7396/colo-mccain-staffer-accidentally-leaks-talking-points-to-reporters

Poor Jack. Poor John. Poor SnowJob Squareglasses. Poor us.

Does anyone else remember that more halcyon period known as Watergate when another president fired another Cox? My favorite ever bumpersticker appeared on a lot of bumpers: Impeach the Cox-sacker. Wonder what sort of bumper sticker could come of McCain's current demand?

Am I understanding this correctly? Congressional Democrats are SUPPORTING Bush's bailout of his wealthy, capitalist friends? Liberals are on Bush's side??? What about, "Bush Lied," and, "Impeach Bush?" What??? Now you trust this guy with a $700 billion blank check?

I find it odd that McCain seems to be going against Bush (again), yet the Democrats are in Bush's pocket. I just heard a press conference where Congressional Democrats are blaming McCain for standing in the way of this deal. Good for McCain! There are some of us who don't particularly like our pocket's being picked to line the pockets of the wealthy. I'm sure Obama would much rather ignore this issue so that he is completely blameless, whatever the outcome.

Let's be honest, most of you would criticize John McCain no matter what he did. This type of partisan logic, or political groupthink (on both the right AND left), is one of the biggest problems facing our country. Why not take a step back from whichever political group you associate yourself with and think, really THINK, for yourselves instead of just being loyal liberal or conservative bobbleheads?

CNBC (that well known left wing media outlet) reports that McCain sabotaged the deal today, and sided with the House Repugs. They walked out of the meeting and have refused to attend an emergency meeting to resolve the issue. In the meantime Washington Mutual, the largest S and L is taken over by the FDIC. Yup.. Country First... http://www.cnbc.com/id/26895236

I find it odd that McCain seems to be going against Bush (again), yet the Democrats are in Bush's pocket.

The senators and representatives, Democrats and Republicans, supporting the "Bush" plan are in Wall Street's pocket.

The Center for Responsive Politics has information about who give and gets the money. Lots of money from Wall Street to the key players.

The Maverick was mute... at the 43-minute long White House meeting.

Obama opened the meeting, laying out the Democrats plan, with details and without any notes. He does not need them.

McCain was mute.

The Republicans in the room were stunned.

The Maverick was mute.

Spot on r. james.

A proposed trillion dollar amnesty request for Wall Street requires all hands on deck.

Take the time to get it right and cut out the partisan crap.

This is going to be one hell of a Great Unwind. What our elected leaders do now is going to have a great impact on how long and deep the pain is going to be felt.

And pain clearly needs to be felt.

Some of these financial institutions deserve to die and if Fed keeps asset price artificially high too much, they won't.

The longer the weak hang around [unable to lend because they're saddled w/ bad debt], the longer investors stay on the sidelines, the longer the recovery.

It's odd that the far left and the far right are so ready for a collapse of the financial markets, so righteous about it, so ready for the pain to affect someone else, not us. The people who are going to feel the pain are you and me, and millions of retired workers, and older people, and families who have put their entire savings in 401Ks.

It seems that we are so far removed from the Great Depression we have forgotten the massive pain and destruction it inflicted on our country, and we only recovered after a world war. It can happen again, and it may in the days ahead. Your arrogance will blow back on you, people. No one is immune.

And this society and its financial system is far more fragile than we are used to thinking. It relies on trust, and when that's gone, it doesn't come back. And all of us have financial support systems that are far more fragile than we like to think of. This evening we just had the biggest bank failure in American history. And it's far from the last.

@ Jack Roberts

Wow, Jack! A point of agreement. Perhaps there is the potential for a trans-partisan reality-based politics after all.

Bill R. wrote:

It's odd that the far left and the far right are so ready for a collapse of the financial markets....

Perhaps that is is because folks at the far ends have been paying attention to economic analysis beyond the happy talk of the corporate media, and so understand what a house of cards the US economy has become. Jobs and savings are threatened because of greed and a political system that allows the purchase of public policy through campaign contributions.

I doubt there are many people who are happy about economic hardship, even if they had seen it coming down the road for a long while.

Once in a century rip-off commentary by Michael Hudson, economist and adviser to Dennis Kucinich. Too bad all you "progressives" preferred the corporate candidates so we are now stuck with choosing between Obama and McCain.

Given Obama's obvious link to the chair of his finance committee only continuing naivete would encourage anyone to believe Obama has an honest response to the kleptocracy.

Corrected link:

Given Obama's obvious link to the chair of his finance committee only continuing naivete would encourage anyone to believe Obama has an honest response to the kleptocracy.

I find the "corporate candidate" bit pretty tiresome, but I am definitely not thrilled with Obama's stance right now about, say, bankruptcy reform. Geez Louise, Senator, quit being so damned cautious, and recognize that bankruptcy reform is a great idea and one that a lot of Democratic legislators favor!

I find the "corporate candidate" bit pretty tiresome,...

I find them more than tiresome. They are the people who helped bring on this economic crisis.

Check here for who gave and received the "bribes" during the present Congress.

It is also interesting to note that Far L and R both view this current bailout with rancor. One sees it as corporate welfare on a magnificent level and the other views it as socialism finally unmasked.

A blessing in disguise? A thready walkway to bilateralism of a most odd kind?

The quote from John Cornyn posted by Bill Bodden was made in 2007 regarding McCain's last-minute entry into negotiations over the immigration bill. The linked article was making the point that this seems to be a McCain m.o.

<h2>Thanks for clarifying that, Chris. I was kind of quick on the trigger on that one.</h2>