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McCain suspends campaign – but why?
September 24th, 2008 [Editorial, Election 2008, Financial, General, Law & Politics, News, US]
16 Comments »Make no mistake: John McCain is NOT suspending his campaign simply because the economy is about to go bust. If his only concern was about the economy, he would be out there, telling the country what he plans to do to fix it. He would be chomping at the bit to get the airtime provided by the presidential debate. He would say the debate is especially necessary now that one of these two men is going to inherit this economic crisis. Time is running out, and the American public NEEDS to hear from the presidential and vice presidential candidates.
But of course, none of that is happening. Why? The real reason he is suspending his campaign – and trying to postpone the debate – is because he sounds better with his mouth shut. He has nothing to say, and has no good way to say it. His campaign has been injured enough by stupid, bigoted, ignorant, completely ridiculous statements coming from him and from his staff. At this point, the very best (and most safe) thing for him to do is smile and look pretty until all the polls are closed. The more he talks, the more we hear him and understand who and what he truly is – and that’s not good for his numbers.
I can only hope that America is not gullible enough to fall for this ploy. After all, what does it mean that he’s suspending his campaign? Does it mean the endless barrage of deceitful commercials about Obama will stop? No. It just means he saves money because he can let his supporters do all the advertising for him – which probably means more lies, not less. Does it mean that his army of lackeys will stop trying to smear the Democratic candidates at every opportunity they get? Of course not.
All it really means is that now he will have an excuse to stay out of the public eye.
Of course, it may also be that he’s trying to push things as far as he can in order to prevent Palin from ever having to debate Biden. I could see him claiming that the presidential debate is more important than the VP debate, and trying to cancel the VP debate altogether.
All this goes without even getting into the very serious question about whether we’re facing another Reagan in the White House, and if elected, whether he will even survive the presidency.
And what of David Letterman’s suggestion that the right thing to do is for McCain to go back to Washington but let his campaign continue on with his running mate, the vice presidential candidate, at its helm?
Well, I think we see the problem there. She’s busy campaigning for the title of Miss America and arranging staged, scripted photo-op meetings that bear a remarkable resemblance to speed-dating.
This political ploy by McCain will be a true test of what America has learned during the past 8 years. Let’s hope we don’t fail by falling for it again.
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September 24th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
2 firemen are called to a 3-alarm fire. One goes to put the fire out, the other stays behind to do a news interview to inform the public about the fire and what they plan to do about it. which one is doing his job?
September 24th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Mccain is so out of touch with whats going on in our country its sad. If we the American people make a decision to put that man in office were doomed to fail, another 4 years of Bush through Mccain a depression is the one thing we can look forward to. Our social security and way of life depends on the choices we make for President and I am here to tell you CHANGE is what we need not 4 years of the same. If we elect another Bush I’m going to pack my bags and start searching for a new country because I just cant take it anymore….Mccain needs to stop trying to buy time and debate we need a leader who can do more than one thing at a time we need a President….Gas is way too expensive the cost of living is out of control and I’m sure Mccain doesnt know this first hand. When was the last time he filled his car or purchased gas to cut his lawn? Mccain 2 Earth Please and who really wants Sarah for VP with the posibility of being president. That woman dosent have a clue. I think the only reason Mccain chose her is for the votes of us woman. bad choice….Obama made the best choice for our country and you best believe with the exprience of the Clintons he has a job for the both of them and I’m sure when hes elected President Change is what we will get. Sadley we spend billions to fund a war thats only about oil and money but cant make a decision to keep our home in order and our country moving forward. Im like Sarah I dont know much about politics but I do know that my way of life is in jeapordy. Republican or Democrat its not about what you are its about whats best for our country. Obama you are smarter than all of them maybe you should go to Washington and tell them what to do as a future President should because we know our current President is too Dumb to come up with any Ideas of reason to figure this out and Mccain is one in the same. SO HELP OBAMA we need change
September 24th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Isn’t this interesting? Exactly how Bush would have handled these matters. Sudden, impulsive and last minute decisions. Like the hastily selection of Palin (who, by the way, was selected to elect the unelectible) and now the sudden cancellation of his SCHEDULED 90 MINUTE PRESIDENTIAL DEBAT (just heard he wants to cancel VP Palin’s too). What’s the crucial urgency for McCain to be present at this financial meeting …when he publicly admitted he knows nothing about the economy. There are phones, emails, faxes, blackberrys, computers, etc., and private planes to keep him in the latest most updated mix. Suddenly his attendance is immediately mandated. America, be afraid of this candidate!!! BE VERY AFRAID!!! Republicans have bankrupt our country! How much clearer does it have to get!! McCain does not belong in the White House. McCain does not belong in the Senate. McCain is not fit to be our President.
September 24th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
If nothing else, I really think he is trying to avoid letting Palin out there – the less she talks, the less we can talk about what she says. Same goes for him.
Mel, it’s funny you should say that. I think Sen. Schumer said it best:
Obama has also pointed out that both candidates have nice, large private planes with their fabulous campaign slogans painted on the side. If they need to be in two states in one day, they are more than able to do it. These particular firemen can talk while they put out the fire. Doesn’t the position they’re vying for require at least a minimal ability to multitask???
September 24th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Since John McCain is pulling a “Maverick” stunt of asking to postpone the debates, I have a better idea: why not fill his empty chair with Libertarian candidate Bob Barr? It’s bad enough that the Presidential debates in this country exclude third party candidates anyway, and now one of the “stars of the show” doesn’t want to show up?
Since Senator Obama wants a debate, I say let’s give him one, and let Mr. Barr–who IS on the ballot in enough states to win–have a crack at him. It would be nice for once to hear someone who’s actually AGAINST more tax-payer supported government bail-outs.
September 24th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
what a phony and dishonorable man to pull this stunt when Obama proposed something he just had to take credit. Country fisrt my eye this guy does not deserve the myth built up around him he is so flawed!!!
September 25th, 2008 at 12:09 am
Hear ye, Hear ye, Savior McCain has arrived to save the day! Yea right! I’m trying to stop myself from puking.
September 25th, 2008 at 12:14 am
Obama is smart enough NOT to be blindsighted by the constant “tactics” of the upstaging McCain. And true enough, his simple statement in handling more than one crisis or problem at a time shows true presidential acumen. Given McCain’s view, McCain could only handle one war at a time – take your pic McCain – Iraq or Afghanistan!
September 25th, 2008 at 2:38 am
OK this is all silly about a dang debate on Friday. Why dont you cable channels actually ask the people if we want the debates. Lets face it, if the debates acually takes place Friday McCain/Obama are not going to say anything new that they havent said for 19 months. The debates are only for the public, I’d rather the two of them go do the job they were elected to do (because they STILL ARE SITTING SENATORS) and go get this economic plan signed.
Obama just wants to debate because he cant lead, meanwhile McCain is leading by example.
Call all the debates of – it’s not like there isn’t floads of one liners from each of them out there. We know their positions, we know their talking points, we are all tired of it. November cant come soon enough !!!!!!!!
September 25th, 2008 at 3:13 am
Americans are in real distress when we cant borrow, we cant pay our mortgage, our neighbors have just lost their jobs, and from no where, our future President goes to join other 98 Senators in Washington. What is it can McPain do in DC that he couldn’t tell the Majority leader or Minority leader on teleconference?
This is maverick McCain thinking that a 2.5 trillion dollar problem can be solved by calling a the other player to a hurdle. This fella and his running mate a so hollow in macro-economics they echo! Now you can see why the Palin shot was a bomb for the country and for the world.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:30 am
All I can say is, I am voting for Obama early. There is no way McCain, War Hero my a$$, is fit to be President of this country. He is sneaky and down-right untrustworthy and how many times has he flipped flopped on the issues that have come up?……..very fishy!!!!!!! We need to unite as Americans and send a message to Washington that we are not stupid and elect a real president!!!!! Obama-Biden is the ticket.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:35 am
I understand your point, Mel. However neither candidate is a firefighter nor an economics expert. Given those facts they should stay and debate.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:06 am
Are these the same people who are still complaining about Bush and McCain being at a birthday party during Katrina?
This is a classic example of Obama being a follower. He is not ready to lead. He would rather talk in front of a teleprompter and let the people behind the scenes make the decisions for him so he can get behind a podium and talk about them.
They are freakin’ senators for petes sake. We should be DEMANDING they do their jobs, not making excuses for them when they don’t!
September 25th, 2008 at 5:10 am
Wait, an original member of the keating (spelling, sry it’s early) 5 is worried about the American economy? Give it a rest. This is just a typical McCain trick. He’s just trying to avoid an embarrassing debate performance.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:23 am
McMumbles is a joke!! Sarah Palin is George Bush in lipstick and
I’m a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight …
* 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 less 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.
* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while
raising 2 daughters, all within Protestant churches, you’re not a real Christian.
* If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your
disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you are a
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 and 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 you’re husband is nicknamed “First Dude”, with at least one DWI
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.
* If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you’re
“exotic, different.”
* Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, a quintessential American
story.
That clears it up!
September 25th, 2008 at 5:50 am
Now he says he wants to “postpone” the Biden/palin debate as well. Why? She’s not prepared. I mean giver her break. How could she be. She is in way over her head and they are trying to cover it up. They won’t let her near the press. If this clown duo gets to the WH, I pity our country. We will be in more trouble than we are now. Next maybe they will try to cancel the election. What a joke McCain is.