Breaking: McCain suspends campaign over bailout, wants debate postponed; Poll question added: What do you think?; Obama camp responds
Scroll down for poll…what do you think of McCain’s move?…Obama camp responds…upshot: We can walk and chew gum at the same time…4:44pm Eastern…Obama speaking…gives a shout-out to GOP Sen. Tom Coburn…recounts negotiations over joint statement with McCain…staffs still working on joint statement…re. debates: “This is exactly the time when the American people need to hear” from [us]…
John McCain has asked the presidential debate commission to suspend this Friday’s debate so he can return to Washington to vote on the Mother of All Bailouts.
Your move, Barry O.
Lead, follow, or…
McCain is also asking President Bush to convene a “leadership” meeting, whatever that means.
More:
Republican John McCain says he’s directing his staff to work with Barack Obama’s campaign and the debate commission to delay Friday’s debate because of the economic crisis.
In a statement, McCain says he will stop campaigning after addressing former President Bill Clinton’s Global Initiative session on Thursday and return to Washington to focus on the nation’s financial problems.
McCain also said he wants President Bush to convene a leadership meeting in Washington. Both he and Obama would attend the session.
And more from FNC.
***
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Trackbacks
- Webloggin » BREAKING: McCain Suspends Campaign to Attend Senate Hearings on Bailout
- Badger Blogger » Blog Archive » McCain suspends campaign and asks that Friday debate be postponed so he can do his job
- Bloodthirsty Liberal » ¿Quién es mas Macho?
- Putting Country First.
- Nicholas Fitzgerald » McCain to Suspend Campaign!
- Hey Barry, You Want to Debate Or Fix The Economy? | Stuck On Stupid
- The Other McCain: Holy crap!
- Choices : Pursuing Holiness
- Country First? McCain Suspends Campaign to Deal With Economy : Stop The ACLU
- McCain To Work and Obama To Debate Obama, You’re Fired! « Mcnorman’s Weblog
- Obama spends 3 days preparing for a debate that may be postponed « The Sadim Touch
- David’s Blog of Common Sense » McCain Suspends Campaign “Country First”
- Cramming For The Test « Quipster
- Bride of Rove » So I just listened to Obama’s press conference
- Roller Coaster Wednesday… « Think Tankers
- Post-Partisan Politics « Tai-Chi Policy
- C-SPAN: Debate Hub » Blog Archive » Smart Move by McCain
- McCain REALLY Wants To Vote On The Bailout Bill « Beltway Snark
- The Maverick: “I’d rather lose an election than lose [our economy].” « Pocket Change - Now Lint Free!
- Dingy Harry And Messiah collaborate On Financial Crisis:’No Presidential Politics’ « Nice Deb
- My vote: don’t care, we’re screwed | Cold Fury
- Who’s Leading Now? | Faith and Facts
- McCain, Quicker, Smarter, Faster: « Riggword Weblog
- McCain Must Say “No” to Bush-Paulson Bailout Initiative at No Man’s Blog
- $700 Billion Bailout: See no evil. Hear no evil. Speak no evil. « Republican Party of Jefferson County, TN
- Crisis In The Washington Emergency Room « Quipster
- Maybe I’m being too cynical, but… : Pursuing Holiness
- Peoples Press Collective » McCain Pulls Out of Debate Due to Economic Crisis …Update: Obama Says Debate Is On …Update: Reid Says “Don’t Come Back!”
- Peoples Press Collective » Couric Interviews Governor Sarah Palin (Preview)
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The poll question leaves off one big option. What if John McCain just wants to do what is best for our country and not his campaign?
I know it’s not possible for a socialist democrat to do anything that is not self-serving but this is a crisis situation.
I beleive John McCain can actually do something like this and it has nothing to do with polital chess moves. This is not what is best for his campaign. It’s best for the country. Shouldn’t that be the most important thing?
Update your poll question, Michelle.
COUNTRY FIRST! MCCAIN/PALIN
Brilliant move, his poll numbers have been sinking and he needed to jump start the campaign.
This is an historic battlefield maneuver and the polls will reflect this.
The cynical view would be he cares about the Country more than himself.
Oh yeah, he has constantly said that!
Obummer is on his heels from this point forward.
mojoe, merci beaucoup.
Brilliant move, his poll numbers have been sinking and he needed to jump start the campaign.
This is an historic battlefield maneuver and the polls will reflect this.
The cynical view would be he cares about the Country more than himself.
Oh yeah, he has consistantly said that!
Obummer is on his heels from this point forward.
Sean Hannity (from Matt Drudge) has just reported that the Obama Campaign does not agree with McCain’s plan take this back to Washington – I guess Obama is going to stand in front of America alone for Friday’s debate.
Now McCain needs to get on the floor of the Senate and lay down the principles for any market recapitalization. It’s going to happen – make Obama respond and react – take the initiative. Also, deny help to foreign entities, and non-documented aliens.
*snort!!*
I just waded in the muck over with the Kossacks to see what they are saying. A lot of them see this as lame posturing on McCain’s part. They are already saying that it was all Obambi’s idea, and McCain beat him to the media. Whatever. But one thing I did find, and had not realized, is that McCain has missed even more votes than Obama. Can this be right? If so, it makes this move even more disturbing to me.
Wrong. If McCain has officially suspended his campaign for President, that includes Sarah Palin as well. I am wondering if she jets to Alaska to drop in on the Governors office for a couple of days, or if she will go with Mac to DC and be a part of the crisis management. Good question, no?
Oh, I don’t know, maybe because the entire American economy is allegedly at stake.
Obama campaign says the debate is on? Yeah, Obama would love having the debate platform to himself. Maybe they’ll let him use his telepromter to give a speech since McCain won’t be there!
Are either Sen McCain or Sen Obama on the committee where this issue is being discussed?
Does Sen McCain want to go behind closed doors create a bill and place it on the floor of the Senate for an up or down vote?
Why did Sen McCain decide to suspend his campaign after Sen Obama Called him this morning suggesting a joint communique speaking to their concerns on the issue?
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. OK, it’s just a cliche. Not calling Sen McCain a fool, or Sen Obama an angel.
And, as for suspending a campaign, why not suspend it immediately? Cancel everything from this moment going forward. Yet, Sen McCain is still going forward with a few events.
Sen McCain. Ready. Fire. Aim.
How Presidential is that?
McCain can’t do two things at once? I really don’t get it.
Maybe he’ll expose the goodies the Dems are slipping in?
The confusion is interesting. Either it was Obama’s idea or McCain is grandstanding in their eyes. The irony of that contradiction seems lost on them.
And Mississippi is griping about the millions of dollars that have gone into this debate and how it’ll hurt their economy. MILLIONS of dollars? Do these debates require CGI effects that I don’t know about? How did we reach the point where it’s perfectly reasonable to spend millions of dollars on two people answering questions in front of a camera?
Missed votes is canard regardless of which side uses it.
Most votes are for naming post offices, recognizing the local PTA members, naming highways etc…
To all those who buy the “country first” spin on this move, why do you think McCain is waiting until Friday to suspend his campaign? If he can attend Bill’s Global Initiative tomorrow, why can’t he debate the economy with Barack on Friday night?
Personally, I think McCain is afraid of taking a firm position on the bailout. Of course, Mrs. Perfect seems to approve:
Obama is the one who “can’t do two things at once”.
He runs for office, he does not GOVERN.
His only plan is to win another election, then win another election, with NOTHING in between.
C’mon, people.
Whatis the point? No matter what McCain does, he is sure to sell-out USA to millions of criminals, who are the cause of the crysis in the first place.
McCain is playing the saviour from the problem he is a part of.
For those who haven’t been keeping up with current events – the Financial/Credit crisis is really a whole lot more serious than what is being let out to the public. The Obama & his campaign have the same intel as McCain, but could care less about the USA & the Citizens. All BHO & the do-nothing Dem Congress care about is getting his Oneness elected.
Dems don’t like this one bit. They claim they are the only group that cares about people or has good ideas and this doesn’t work for them.
If Obambi was going to do this first then why didn’t he do it? If he had the idea first then why no action?
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU GET FROM A SOCIALIST DEMOCRAT. NO DECISION CAN BE MADE UNTIL THEY TEST THE POLITCAL WATERS TO SEE WHAT THE REACTION WOULD BE.
THIS IS WHAT YOU GET WITH SOMEONE THAT HAS NO BACKBONE AND NO CLUE WHAT TO DO NEXT.
THIS IS WHAT YOU GET WITH B.HUSSEIN OBAMBI.
Odumbo camp says the debate is ON.
OK, now maybe we are getting somewhere.
Now he just needs to hold a similar ‘leadership’ conference on Immigration, while they figure out how to re-market the inevitable North American Union.
I didn’t see in McCain’s statement on Drudge that the entire campaign was suspended, only that he had suspended his activities to return to DC.
What sounds approving about that? She has said on more than one occasion that she’s very uncomfortable with the taxpayers being on the hook again. I saw her say it live. What about the word unfortunately do you not understand?
That sounds to me like she recognizes the way the political momentum is flowing for a massive government bailout, and she does not like it, but it may very well happen.
Nice try, but no points.
My 7th period US History class discussed this today; all of them but one think this was a brilliant move by McCain.
Option #2
Easy explanation. By refusing to reschedule the debate, now Hopenchange is down to only 1 debate left while being able to claim that McCain “chickened out” of the first one.
And the media arm of the donkey party will run with that, and it will become “common knowledge” that Hopenchange “won” the first debate by default — while his refusal to participate in the townhall-style debates that McCain proposed will go down the memory hole.
Watch. It’ll happen.
Just a political ploy by McCain in my opinion.
He mostly votes on the side of the liberals so what does it matter?
I would hope that McCain would reschedule the debate if it doesn’t happen on Friday.
Dude, it’s the McCain-Palin campaign. They are not running independant of each other, as much as I might like that.
Obama’s campaign says “why can’t we do both?” Hmmmm. That cuts down his study time.
Snort. Maybe when they debate McCain could offer Obama a stick of gum.
I would like to see every senator and representative be required to be in DC to solve this problem. Lock every one of them in the capitol and don’t let them out until they have a solution. During voting, they would be required to vote “yes” or “no”, not “present”. I would also turn off every camera so they wouldn’t feel the need to perform.
BTW… #34 zyzzyg… the debate is in Mississippi, not Georgia.
I grew up only a few miles from Oxford and graduated from Ole Miss… folks back home are very excited about this, but they can delay it a couple of days.
He did say the word delay in his statement, not cancel. He wants these debates, he’s challenged Obama to joint townhalls and the One won’t take him up on it.
The presumed debate on Friday is supposed to be on foreign affairs, right?
I think it would at least be worth changing the topics to domestic issues, esp. the current economic woes and debate foreign policy in the second.
I wonder if Obama will remember where his seat is located at?
Maybe, since this is McCain’s best debate topic he wants to push it back closer to the election while BHO wants to get it out of the way…
On September 24th, 2008 at 3:35 pm, The Ugly American said:
Since when is it a “stunt” to do the work that you were hired to do?
McCain is still a senator and he’s heading to Washington to do his job, even if it delays the debate and pisses off people in his own party.
It’s called “leadership”, hello?
The foreign policy debate this Friday will be rescheduled and he will smoke Obama on the success of the surge. By showing leadership and forcing Barack to follow him back to DC on the economy, he smokes Obama in the economic debate.
It was a great move for McCain; we’ll see if it was a great move for the American people.
Brian,
I agree with you, but it seems some on this thread disagree. I wish Obama would do a townhall, but it’s not going to happen. He’s out of his comfort zone, so his handlers won’t let him. Obama is a very eloquent speaker, when he has a teleprompter, but he’s about as uncomfortable as McCain without one.
Holy crap!! I hope you are kidding… LOL
Is this like when I am playing video games and kicking butt all day long…..
until between 4:00 and 9:00 PM or during Summer/Sping break when all the kids are out out school?? And thats when Im toast.
Fixed that for you.
I agree that every representative and senator should be there, but turn off the cameras?? This whole mess has happened behind closed doors! Time to open up the windows and let the light of day shine in on these people who supposedly represent us!! This should be on every network until resolved!
And the huge styrofoam pillars and glassy eyed crowd at the stadium for the Obamasiah WASN’T a silly stunt and totally unnecessary??
Hey there… if I’m gonna be Prez in 09, I want to have a hand in the economic package that will be hung around my neck… Obama can keep the noose
One of the three presidential debates is a townhall formatted one.
It looks like a good move by McCain, but I want to see what he does if and when he returns to DC.
I’m still not sold on why this is a good idea. He can’t possibly go to the debate now even if Barry shows up. Checkmate?
Wouldn’t it be better to just say we are going to let the free market solve the problem, But in the mean time, we are going to choose Newt’s option, plus.
I would also point out the cells next to Ken Lays where the scoundrels will live.
Hey I can dream, can’t I — I mean McCain is the reformer, isn’t he?
There is much gnashing of teeth going on here, it seems. I’m trying to see this clearly, and think a step or two ahead. I don’t believe that this is a stunt, or disaster for McCain. Now, what he’s going to support for the solution to the problem is another matter altogether. I just don’t know if I’m going to be on board for that, but I like the way he’s showing leadership in contrast to Obama’s “uhhhh…buuhhh…uhhhh“.
atheling
Thanks for the info. I’ll need lots of popcorn for that one.
You do know he’s dead, right?
Don’t get me wrong; I am not a supporter of the bailout or of this rapid leap to action. However, this is an extremely shrewd move, so much so that I didn’t think anyone in McCain’s camp had the cajones to do it.
BHO is in a lose-lose situation. If he doesn’t go along, he looks insensitive and unappreciative of the situation’s seriousness, and he demonstrates his total lack of ability to lead. On the other hand, if he does go along, he cedes the issue to McCain.
Call it McCain grandstanding. I call it very, very clever.
Oh, man I almost forgot! Michelle is going to be on Cavuto today, and he’s already on.
Can’t miss that!
by the way, does anyone know where EnglishQueen and Texas Tiger are?? I miss reading their posts.
10 is a significant number of townhalls, is it not?
Besides which, who said that McCain would dictate the terms? I believe this is a weak argument. Both camps could have been involved and attempted to agree on the setting, moderator, etc. Sen. Obama did not even appear to entertain the idea at all so to say now it was a matter of control or influence seems unlikely.
The “whipping boy” spin on this to make Obama look tough is interesting. What happened to:
On September 24th, 2008 at 4:04 pm, chapoutier said:
And he wonders why people still have no idea what his “plan” is five weeks out of the election.
But I can understand Barrys’ hesitancy here, can’t you? After all, this means that all of those “debate-watch” parties that his bots have been busily planning all day will now have to be cancelled or rescheduled. A lot his donors are going to be pissed if he disses them.
And poor Michelle, she must be traumatized! The poor woman was compelled to dress up in her “everywoman” clothes, and all for naught.
I would really like McCain to debate Obama. It would be a good opportunity to really back this guy into a wall. There won’t be a teleprompter and he’ll, for once, have to think on his feet, without making a fool of himself, on national TV.
What if Bush comes out tonight and knocks McCain’s legs out from under him by saying a deal has already been reached?
Now just how do you all think McShame will vote? He opposes the majority of the population in a good deal of issues, man made global warming, open boarders and amnesty not to mention no drilling in ANWR. My money says he makes one more attempt at telling the base to go to hell. It’s kind of a habit of his.
Gov. Palin can only carry this ornery old man so far.
Brian72
I’m not quite sure what to think yet myself. If McCain’s just going there to vote yes, I’m not impressed. I am especially angry about the addition of student loans, car debt, etc. If he gets that thrown out, I’ll be impressed. Hopefully, the true conservatives will make their voices heard and get something done.
FOX NEWS ALERT!!!
Michelle is up on Cavuto after the commercial break, in a couple of minutes.
Gotta go check that out!
#137 7thson… yeah, I know what you mean that we should have this wide open and shine the lights on them, but I get so sick of seeing all of their little powerpoint slides and antics that make me want to scream. They aren’t there to entertain us, they are there to work for us.
Michelle on FOX Cavuto shortly to expose ILLEGALS in this mortgage mess.
MICHELLE MALKIN, YOU ARE MY HERO!
On the contrary, put one camera on Obama and one on McCain, like the movie The Truman Show. Put them both on TV live on a split screen. Let’s see them in action 24/7 during this crisis so we can judge them and make a decision.
Maybe Barry O thinks he can win the debate by a forfeit.
Let Sarah debate the masterbater.. err… master debater… obama-kins…
I like your analysis. However, the seven billion dollar question is, which McCain will show up in Washington?
He’s talking about this like it’s armageddon, and something, anything has to be done, and done now, which is ridiculous. What we need is McCain the maverick (as he fancies himself) to actually demonstrate those maverick bona fides and call for a thoughtful, measured approach to this, and disuade all his cronies in Washington from jumping on the Paulson bailout bandwaggon. Will he do it? I’m fearful that he will show an itchy trigger finger, shoot from the hip… and miss.
A friend of mine, a graphic artist, said he’s planning to start making t-shirts tonight, in light of this whole thing. I think they’re pretty funny:
T SHIRT 1:
John McCain can’t multitask.
Obama can.
T Shirt 2:
The Dog Ate My Homework
(John McCain’s face here)
MM two times in one day! It’s like Christmas!
Maybe Bush is really going to lay it all out on the line and tell us we are headed for disaster if something isn’t done. Maybe McCain-Palin got a sneak peek? Just trying to calm my nerves here.
nyk
First one is a little funny. If Obama is coming to DC to work and then go to the debate, his shirt idea is spot on. However, I haven’t heard anyone say Obama was going to DC, only that the debate was still on.
That would be funny, except they got their candidates mixed up, bassackwards.
If Obama attends on Friday and MCCain does not, is it still a “debate” Seems like it would be more like a “bate”. If that is the case, Obama should do well, since he is a well known master.
Sounds like we need to talk you down from jumping off a building.
Don’t do it!
Navywife91 is right, folks! CALM DOWN!
OBAMA DOESN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO!
I can’t figure out what is going on.
Warren Buffet says it is a MUST. That scares me.
If anything, it must be a stand alone, well defined and controlled ‘loan-bailout’.
It might be far smaller than 700 BILLION.
Like AIG, how can you buy/bailout/takeover a company with ONE TRILLION dollars in assets with only 85 billion dollars?
That sounds like a 7 day or 30 day loan to me, not a hostile takeover.
We need to know so much more, and yet only 100 people in the entire world probably understand this whole thing.
It is reported that GWB’s proposed solution to the economic crisis is to bomb Iran’s nuke ops while their nutcase is in NYC…
Sounds like a plan to me… and we can go after those damned Ruskies too…
See y’all on the other side…
This would be a brilliant move on McCain’s part, if the media hadn’t chosen sides.
AP Headline:
Yahoo Headline:
The Charlotte Observer:
How do you think these would’ve been headlined had the One made this pronouncement?
I say delay it…maybe I’ll have power later and can watch it. Thank goodness the weather is cool down here.
McCain has put The Media-Chosen One between a rock and a hard place with this; Does Obama follow his lead and take care of country first? Or – Doe Obama play politics as usual and fiddle away as Rome burns?
Of course, Obama could take on himself and debate his position on any given issue – this week’s stance vs. last week’s. I’m picturing The One running back and forth between podiums to interrupt himself.
How about we go back to the gold standard…. seems simple..so much gold, so much money. We would know where the gold was, and where the money was. Get a house new house back to $30,000 and a car down to $3,000. There is just too much money to control or keep track of.
I have NO idea what I am talking about… just that it is messed up and my math skills stop with, “If one train leaves the station at 1:00am….
Oh, I’m fine. I’m just nervous that McCain is doing all of this only to vote “Yes”.
bloodhound, I agree. I’m concerned that McCain is concerned that no “consensus” was achieved by Congress. (Margaret Thatcher called consensus the lack of a strong leader.)
If we end up with McCain-Dodd, we are so screwed…
McCain personally stopping his campaigning is a great move. However, halting all of his campaign ads seems like a stunt. There is no reason why his campaign can’t keep running at some level without him for a couple days.
The debate would be suspended, not cancelled.
If the foreign policy debate is pushed after the domestic policy/economy debate, that would be good for McCain, as his strength would be showcased last, leaving an impression on most viewers’ minds.
It is a shrewd move by McCain, and demonstrates his “country first” ethos. Either way, it puts Obama in an awkward situation… remember the OODA Loop?
Well, at least Obama is staying true to his motto:
Me First. Country Second.
Interesting. Seems like the media jackals know that Obama has been caught flat-footed once again, and it’s their job to step into the breach for their guy, and FAST.
No suprise there.
It’s The Great Depression™ Charlie Brown!
Yes, I deliberately used the word “stunt” because that’s exactly what this is.
Again, where was his “leadership” on other crucial missed votes?
Look, I’m sorry if I’m not a sufficient true-believer for some of you folks, but this just is how I’m seeing it.
Skip the high-drama already and do the damn debate.
We’re not talking about their candidate, we are talking about our candidate.
Michelle asked us for our thoughts and I gave mine.
Again, IMO I believe this move by McCain is a mistake.
Your results may vary.
That he wants to deal with the issue was encouraging. It has potential to derail Obama.
That he’s working on some sort of joint statement with the Obama campaign is pathetic.
He never seems to miss an opportunity to waste an opportunity.
He should be working on an alternative… then blind side Obama with it.
Americans HATE this bill. He can show he’s putting America first.
He needs to show a strength by bucking Washington and opposing the bill. Putting Obama in Pres. Bush’s corner and himself in his own corner. As was written, what an Ad that would be.
This is like watching a pitcher throw a pitch in the dirt and Umpire McCain calling it a strike.
What Campaign is McCain watching???? Doesn’t he see the Big Picture????
I guess not.
Mookie…Major Garret of FNC read the email that he had just received from Barry’s handlers just after McCain’s announcement. It was essiantially a “uh unh…we said it first…we really did…it was OUR idea!” statement.
Brian is right about NavyWife being right!
I agree, he better be going back to halt or greatly alter this thing or it will be a huge mistake.
Has anyone else seen this suggestion from Dave Ramsey? I admit I don’t really know how all of this works, but I trust Dave. He’s all about fiscal responsibility and his financial principles have a proven track record.
When you are pressed you revert to your basic instincts. Not surprising that a man like McCain would do this.
Napoleon had a standing order to his Corps Commanders to “Always march to the sound of the guns.” McCain has to go back to D.C. in this instance. It is the way he is wired.
Frankly, it speaks well of him, IMHO.
No… Not true.
Obama called McCain at 8:30am today to put together some sort of joint statement on the bill.. akin to support for it. McCain said “yes”.
Just now, Fox says Obama declined to postpone the debate. I guess that backfired.
Looks like Michelle has gotten bumped backwards on Cavuto by a couple of Fox News Alerts. He just interviewed the President of Georgia. Waiting for Obama’s statement shortly. He might get to Michelle before the hour is over, though.
It’s amazing that there are any of them left after all the grenades they have jumped on for their messiah. They’re like cockroaches….
True. Nobody, or at least very, very few people truly understand what has happened. However, when an incompetent partisan like Paulson says to the country; ‘quick, give me seven billion dollars!’ ‘and by the way, you know I won’t be accountable for it in any way’ ‘quick, do it now, before anyone sees what’s going on!’ I get really nervous!
An essential aspect of success is failure. Our government for as long as I can remember has attempted to legislate success, and save the most incompetent and least deserving from their own gross negligence. This bailout, just another in a long line of government bailout/handouts of taxpayer money will only serve to perpetuate the problem. Those engaging in extremely risky short-term profit schemes will continue to take advantage of the misguided policies of the government at the expense of the taxpayer.