[Updated] McCain suspends campaign to work on economy

CmdrWilkens · Post by **CmdrWilkens** » 2008-09-24 08:49pm

Actually Harry Reid telling McCain that he would be frivolous and counter-productive was possibly the best part of this...as was the snap polling by SurveyUSA showing that something like 75%+ of people think the debates should go on and so should the campaings. basically this isn't just blatant publicity stunt its so blatant that polling within afew hours of the announcement shows that everyone sees it as such.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2008-09-24 08:58pm

Maybe I'm just insufficiently cynical but it seems a damned shame that a United States Senator going to work during the middle of an economic crisis is a political stunt rather any genuine desire to serve the public.

Chris OFarrell wrote:Obama has come out smoothly though, unfortunately he appears to agree about suspending his campaign, but demands the debates go ahead AND laid down the points for any rescue package that it should pay back the US taxpayer in the long term, not a CENT for any wall street executives if they take the money, help for hard pressed people in danger of loosing their houses e.t.c.

I think, in this case, he owes it to the American people to suspend his campaign. This is a crisis and he's still a senator. If he's serious about being something more than ambition in a nice suit, now's the time to step up.

That said, I also hope Obama is in Washington because, home ownership fetish aside, I'm agreeing with the Democrats on this a whole lot. These bailout should be set up for the public good and CEOs ought not be profiting while companies are going bankrupt.

Aratech wrote:In short: do not underestimate the ignorance and stupidity of Joe Sixpack.

Ordinarily, that's true. But the economy more than anything is hitting Joe and Jane Sixpack right in the wallet. They no longer have the luxury of ignorance and it doesn't take much to figure out that the present policies are unlikely to start miraculously working.

McCain may try to spin it but I doubt it's going to go terribly well for him.

Invictus ChiKen · Post by **Invictus ChiKen** » 2008-09-24 09:51pm

Sure enough a protest sight is up http://www.demandthedebate2008.com/ if anyone wants to sign up for it, not sure it'll do any good.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2008-09-24 10:09pm

On the subject of the people 'Buying it' on McCain, I present a poll, with a warning: It's a snapshot poll. That means it was conducted and released in a matter of hours, to get an immediate gauging. 1,000 participants and a larger-than-normal 3.2%. Full details: Link

Summarized results:

The first debate between John McCain and Barack Obama is scheduled to take place in two days. Should the debate be held as scheduled? Should the debate be held, but the format changed to focus on the economy? Or, should the debate be postponed?

Hold as scheduled 50%
Hold with focus on economy 36%
Postpone 10%

Is the right response to the turmoil on Wall Street to suspend the campaigns for president? To continue the campaigns as though there is no crisis? Or, to re-focus the campaigns with a unique emphasis on the turmoil on Wall Street?

Suspend 14%
Continue 31%
Refocus the campaign 48%

If Friday's presidential debate does not take place, would that be good for America? Bad for America? Or would it make no difference?

Good for America 14%
Bad for America 46%
No difference 35%

As you can see, the margin of error is larger than normal, but doesn't cast a noticably different outcome. This is the immediate reaction, with the full questions as given.

Ender · Post by **Ender** » 2008-09-24 10:32pm

It's clearly a bullshit stunt to argue that Obama puts himself first whereas McCain is "country first", and while McCain won't be campaigning you can bet that the 527s and paid pundits will preach it that way. The question is will it work. The posted poll is interesting, but it is before the media machine has had a chance to start repeating the message.

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2008-09-24 10:40pm

So, apparently now Bush has summoned both Obama AND McCain to the White House tomorrow for a sitdown, and they're both going.

I think its a really good sign that they're getting into the same room without cameras to try and figure out a plan.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2008-09-24 10:47pm

CaptainChewbacca wrote:So, apparently now Bush has summoned both Obama AND McCain to the White House tomorrow for a sitdown, and they're both going.

I think its a really good sign that they're getting into the same room without cameras to try and figure out a plan.

As opposed to the plan that's been getting refined over the past week, in the Congress? Or even the GOP alternative, which amounts to 'Suspend capital gains tax, privatize Fannie and Freddie'.

A reminder: Removing all Capital Gains Tax now means it is optimal for the richest to not work. And Fannie and Freddie were private. They fucked it up. They had to be bailed out.

Guardsman Bass · Post by **Guardsman Bass** » 2008-09-24 11:15pm

CaptainChewbacca wrote:So, apparently now Bush has summoned both Obama AND McCain to the White House tomorrow for a sitdown, and they're both going.

I think its a really good sign that they're getting into the same room without cameras to try and figure out a plan.

He's probably covering all the bases, so that regardless of how the election turns up, the next President will have an idea of what's going on.

On a side note, if McCain and Obama are going to go do Serious Business, wouldn't it actually make more sense for their VP's to take a more prominent role in the campaigning and public rally process? If they are going to drop Obama and Biden from the debate on friday, they ought to have Palin and Biden do a second one, replacing them.

Kodiak · Post by **Kodiak** » 2008-09-24 11:53pm

I can't help but think of this picture, and i decided to make a motivator.

I'm sorry to say, McCain just lost my vote. I'm writing in Romney, one of the few candidates out there with practical business experience. It won't make much difference, but at least I can live with myself.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2008-09-25 12:36am

Oh my god. Is anyone watching Letterman? He's visibly livid. This image control is fucking ridiculous. I think the wheels are coming off the campaign.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2008-09-25 12:47am

Illuminatus Primus wrote:Oh my god. Is anyone watching Letterman? He's visibly livid. This image control is fucking ridiculous. I think the wheels are coming off the campaign.

The thing I think that McCain doesn't realize is that you can't take the kind of "Maverick" risks he takes without having some of them backfire. I'm sure he figured that this was a gutsy move that worked for his message of "Country First", but instead it's making him out to look like he is pandering or worse, a coward for refusing to show up for the debate.

I will be tickled if Obama decides to go ahead with the debate without McCain. He could take that long primetime slot to speak to the American people about how he is going to affect real change and devote a sizeable block of time to a detailed plan regarding the economy. It's a great opportunity to get his message out in front of the voters.

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2008-09-25 12:54am

Illuminatus Primus wrote:Oh my god. Is anyone watching Letterman? He's visibly livid. This image control is fucking ridiculous. I think the wheels are coming off the campaign.

What happened?

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2008-09-25 12:54am

Stormbringer wrote:Maybe I'm just insufficiently cynical but it seems a damned shame that a United States Senator going to work during the middle of an economic crisis is a political stunt rather any genuine desire to serve the public.

Yeah, thank God Lincoln felt the same way during the Civil War, Roosevelt during the Depression and World War II, Reagan during the hostage crisis.

Give me a break. The candidates owe it to the people to make sure they have the best candidate running things in a couple months. Its that person who will have to deal with whatever bill is passed, and their participation on the floor is non-essential. Furthermore, its obvious this is a farce. The Obama campaign suggest a joint bipartisan statement on the economy and McCain one-upped him with a self-righteous "suspension" of his campaign which, of course, call Obama to follow his lead as if bipartisan unity on this issue was his idea. Furthermore, do you think your donations to McCain aren't still be processed as normal? What do you think the campaign offices are like? Good thing he had time to show up with Couric today, and to stay in New York for Bill Clinton's conference tomorrow. That's the same thing as hopping on the plane to get on Washington immediately to deal with the crisis. Exactly the same, sure. The sincerity of this suspension is why the McCain campaign has issued marching orders to its volunteers and employees giving them talking points to...hm...campaign on his suspension of his campaign. Right. Yes, and the fact he want to reschedule the debate now, not yesterday, not last week, in place of the first VPOTUS debate (with the likely, time-constraint consequence that the VPOTUS debates probably losing one so Palin does not have to be exposed as am imbecile). Yeah. All sincere bipartisan public service. From the man for whom a couple days ago before his bipartisan populist rebirth, was blaming the whole crisis on Obama, before which he was saying the SEC chairman was okay right after he said he should be fired, before which he said AIG needed to be bailed out after he said it should not be, before which he said the fundamentals of our economy are strong.

Aren't you a little old to believe in fairy tales? Even if they make you feel better about your preconceived choice and campaign contributions. I hope you feel real fuzzy thinking about yours being filed in the manila next to Fannie Mae's.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2008-09-25 12:58am

CaptainChewbacca wrote:
Illuminatus Primus wrote:Oh my god. Is anyone watching Letterman? He's visibly livid. This image control is fucking ridiculous. I think the wheels are coming off the campaign.
What happened?

He called Letterman at the 11th hour and told him he couldn't show up because "the economy was cratering" and he had to go save the country. So Letterman is kind of upset and rants about it for awhile, implying the campaign must be suspended because Palin can't be left alone with reporters much less running his campaign, and his top 10 list was a uniform list of anti-McCain zingers. He then had KEITH OLBERMANN fill in for McCain, during which he managed to cut to a feed of McCain - who'd just claimed on the phone he had to go back immediately to fly to Washington - being interviewed on Couric's show. He yelled at the feed, "Hey John, do you need a ride to the airport?" He could barely finish some of his jokes or top 10 without ranting about McCain's dishonesty and the bare political maneuvering of the move. Terrible publicity move by McCain.

Patrick Degan · Post by **Patrick Degan** » 2008-09-25 01:05am

The Kernel wrote:
Illuminatus Primus wrote:Oh my god. Is anyone watching Letterman? He's visibly livid. This image control is fucking ridiculous. I think the wheels are coming off the campaign.
The thing I think that McCain doesn't realize is that you can't take the kind of "Maverick" risks he takes without having some of them backfire. I'm sure he figured that this was a gutsy move that worked for his message of "Country First", but instead it's making him out to look like he is pandering or worse, a coward for refusing to show up for the debate.

I will be tickled if Obama decides to go ahead with the debate without McCain. He could take that long primetime slot to speak to the American people about how he is going to affect real change and devote a sizeable block of time to a detailed plan regarding the economy. It's a great opportunity to get his message out in front of the voters.

I hope there'll be a clip of tonight's Letterman up soon. I'd like to see this.

From what I see, the posturing on the Gimp's part is nothing more than his skipping out on the debate, because he has to know he'd have been getting absolutely ass-raped on the economy. So this is his way to run from Obama and look dignified (theoretically) doing it. I also think it spares, or hopes to, the spectacle of Vice Presidential Barbie looking like a moron on the same stage with Biden. Clearly, the sort of softball interview sessions they were expecting to cruise through got torpedoed at the docks when Henry Paulson asked for that $700bn blank cheque and the American people rose up and said "what the fuck?!" and neither of them is prepared to go through a real grilling, which has now become impossible to avoid.

Patrick Degan · Post by **Patrick Degan** » 2008-09-25 01:09am

Illuminatus Primus wrote:
CaptainChewbacca wrote:
Illuminatus Primus wrote:Oh my god. Is anyone watching Letterman? He's visibly livid. This image control is fucking ridiculous. I think the wheels are coming off the campaign.
What happened?
He called Letterman at the 11th hour and told him he couldn't show up because "the economy was cratering" and he had to go save the country. So Letterman is kind of upset and rants about it for awhile, implying the campaign must be suspended because Palin can't be left alone with reporters much less running his campaign, and his top 10 list was a uniform list of anti-McCain zingers. He then had KEITH OLBERMANN fill in for McCain, during which he managed to cut to a feed of McCain - who'd just claimed on the phone he had to go back immediately to fly to Washington - being interviewed on Couric's show. He yelled at the feed, "Hey John, do you need a ride to the airport?" He could barely finish some of his jokes or top 10 without ranting about McCain's dishonesty and the bare political maneuvering of the move. Terrible publicity move by McCain.

Indeed. I'd say this was the Gimp's "Dukakis-tank-ride" moment.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2008-09-25 01:10am

Youtube Link: Link

Warning: Contains pandering over what a hero McCain is.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2008-09-25 01:13am

I really can't believe it. Does he think David Letterman gets uh, less exposure than his canned campaign announcements, or the dispatches sent out by his handlers? The worst image control I have ever seen. I sat there literally dumbfounded, unable to understand what McCain thought he was doing in this sequence of events today. And then Kieth Olbermann comes on this evening with footage of Sarah Palin being blessed by an African witch-hunter (no, I'm really serious) that Jesus will help her win campaigns and get money, and literally says to protect her from witchcraft. Same day that the campaign is smashed by the media on allowing pictures but no questions for Palin's NY speed-dating with "world leaders."

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2008-09-25 01:15am

That's not the best part, with the top 10 list, and when he catches McCain in an open and obvious lie with the feed of him with Couric only a few studios down on the same network. Jesus Christ. Same day as his screwing of the Palin reporters. Deliberately mistreat the media, and you will not be happy with the coverage.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2008-09-25 01:19am

Illuminatus Primus wrote:That's not the best part, with the top 10 list, and when he catches McCain in an open and obvious lie with the feed of him with Couric only a few studios down on the same network. Jesus Christ. Same day as his screwing of the Palin reporters. Deliberately mistreat the media, and you will not be happy with the coverage.

I'm pretty sure that has a feed or two.

I personally saw him getting make-upped or something in preparation, there's this person applying something to his face cosmetically. Lettermen even comments on it. 'Did we just get a feed of him getting a manicure?' I think it was.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2008-09-25 01:22am

Oh, I hadn't gotten there yet. I figured with 9 minutes it must've left bits out, but I guess the edit condensed a lot.

Crossroads Inc. · Post by **Crossroads Inc.** » 2008-09-25 01:37am

Yeah its amazing, as stupid as most American voters are, this is one Outright lie McCain cant escape from:

"Sorry Jay, Ive got to race to Washington to save America!"
5min later we see sitting in a TV studio, getting Makeup for a lame ass interview.

Best quote?

"The road to the White House goes through ME McCain!"

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2008-09-25 01:50am

Well, being on the West Coast I still get to see Letterman (the Late Show comes on in about 40 minutes here) so I guess I can see the full, uncut rant...

Too bad I don't have my TV hooked up to my computer so I can record video, or I'd record the whole thing and upload it to YouTube.

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2008-09-25 01:56am

Crossroads Inc. wrote:"Sorry Jay, Ive got to race to Washington to save America!"

That was Dave, not Jay.

As we just watched, Letterman is not the guy you want to screw over. I don't know if anyone has watched him during his early career, but this is actually the tamer version of Dave. The guy can get pretty mean (which is always funny. Remember Paris Hilton?).

Patrick Degan · Post by **Patrick Degan** » 2008-09-25 01:56am

It may be too soon to say, maybe too prematurely hopeful, but I think the Gimp/Barbie ticket may have lost the election tonight.