Comments on: McCain Suspends Campaign

By: McCain Was Called | Bearing Drift :: Virginia Politics and Podcasts

McCain Was Called | Bearing Drift :: Virginia Politics and Podcasts — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:21:51 +0000

[...] John McCain announced he was suspending his campaign and returning to Washington to help deal with the current economic crisis. Many questioned this [...]

By: Joel McDonald

Joel McDonald — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:50:59 +0000

Now McCain is pulling down his ads? Now this has gone from being a sincere move to help correct our finance problems to being just another stunt to create a perception. How does having ads on the air take away from McCain's efforts in D.C. I'm sorry, I don't think Americans are buying into this stunt.

By: Shane McNulty

Shane McNulty — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:20:13 +0000

BTW, I just saw Bush’s address tonight. Very well written and delivered. He really made the issue rather easily accessible by the American public while stating his case for the bailout.

I still disagree with his proposal but I give him kudos for navigating what for many is a very difficult subject to grasp.

By: Shane McNulty

Shane McNulty — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:18:11 +0000

Jason, I don’t doubt your word I’m just having a hard time thinking that anyone who would have said such a comment was being all that truthful (be they Dems or Reps).

I mean… people in DC were saying they needed McCain there… for what? And look I mean it… if it was Dems saying this then they’re completely full of it. McCain has a job to do and he’s doing it as far as I’m concerned. Same with Obama.. I just have a hard time seeing that they actually need to go to such a dramatic length as suspending the campaign just to talk at the White House.

Unless there’s a complete “Eureka!” moment at that meeting tomorrow (and there won’t be) If there were actually voting on a plan tomorrow that’d be different. But just to have a discussion? I’m all for talking.. I just can’t see that this is really worth the time of McCain or Obama.

By: Jason Kenney

Jason Kenney — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:50:59 +0000

Shane – Part of it may be the fact that both sides were asking him to come back. They weren’t asking for Sen. Obama. They were saying “If John McCain doesn’t endorse or support something here it will fail.” Democratic leadership was even saying this over the last couple days.

So why now?

Because he has been asked for by name to come back and help. He has been asked to put aside his presidential campaign and personal ambitions so that he can help enact a bi-partisan measure that will help our economy.

So he went.

By: Shane McNulty

Shane McNulty — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:37:39 +0000

I fail to see how this is putting country above politics. And before you ignite the flames allow me to explain.

McCain is seen by many as being weak on the economy and he himself has admitted it’s not his strongest subject. Personally, I’m ok with that, that’s what you have advisers for. I don’t expect the President to be a genius on all subjects.

But in an attempt to prove to the American people that he’s really presidential material and “above the fray” of the politics he chooses -today- to pull the cord.. why? And why in this manner? Did the stock market drop dramatically? (No, the Dow was only down -29 pts) Did some form of credit swap go horribly awry? No. Is there something that McCain can add to the discussion in DC that he has to suspend his campaign in order to deliver this message? No, of course not.

Regarding the manner, my question is the method in which the announcement was delivered (press conference, no questions taken).

According to Obama, he and McCain had spoken earlier in the day and agreed to offer a joint statement on the economy… so why did McCain jump the gun? And then to not only call a press conference to announce his intentions but to then challenge Obama to join McCain in DC.

So, we have the timing issue… surely McCain knew there was an economic problem before today, so why now?

The opportunity of a joint statement truly having a non-partisan effect is destroyed by McCain. And to what? If he’s truly putting country first didn’t that chance get blown to crap by putting Obama in a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” scenario? (If Obama agrees then he’s following McCain’s lead, if Obama disagrees then obviously he cares not for the suffering of the American people)

I applaud McCain for taking a strong interest in the dire situation our economy is in… God knows if our government had taken this kind of interest years ago we might have been able to avoid this mess to begin with. But the timing and the method in which this “concern” is being delivered doesn’t ring true to me.

And here’s breaking news, the White House officially agrees with McCain’s statement and invites McCain, Obama and congressional leaders to the White House for a meeting tomorrow… color me surprised. This couldn’t have been coordinated at all… could it?

Flame away guys.

By: Regarding economy and debate, Obama probably knows how to use an iPhone | Bearing Drift :: Virginia Politics and Podcasts

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:08:44 +0000

[...] even permit him to type an email, has to do things “old school.” He actually heads back to do the job the people of Arizona are paying him to do. And, as the quasi-leader of the GOP these days, can do [...]

By: Surveying the Nation Between 3-6pm EST On A Weekday | Bearing Drift :: Virginia Politics and Podcasts

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:45:52 +0000

[...] who are at home between 3-5pm EST don’t agree with McCain’s decision to suspend his campaign says a SurveyUSA poll. And even if they don’t agree with McCain pushing back [...]

By: Howard

Howard — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:30:05 +0000

COUNTRY ABOVE POLITICS !!!
This is another example of how Senator John McCain puts country first. All Obama cares about is winning the election at any cost. Obama neglected his duties as U.S. Senator before running for President, and especially after he began running for President. This ‘bail out – quick fix” will negatively affect Americans for decades. Many of the bloggers who are criticizing McCain for this decision wouldn’t recognize responsibility, or integrity if it bit them on the ass. Keep America strong and safe … Elect McCain/Palin in November.

By: FrenchytheSailor

FrenchytheSailor — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:20:37 +0000

On the lighter side…. An interesting perspective on a McCain economic plan from ONN (just for a well needed laugh).

http://www.theonion.com/content/video/mccain_s_economic_plan_for_nation

By: FrenchytheSailor

FrenchytheSailor — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:29:04 +0000

Great question MB, I’ve clue. But its a moot point, Obama just said he still plans on debating Friday. So either McCain show up to debate, or he bails and runs off to DC to “fix” the economy.

The little problem with that is… he’s not an economic specialist, nor is he yet the President.

As far as I’m concerned, his job right now is to explain to the American people why they should elect him President. And the only really fair way to do that is to stand toe to toe with Obama and duke it out.

Just like car shopping, I like to compare my choices side by side.

He’d be doing himself and the GOP a great disservice by not attending the debate.

By: Joel McDonald

Joel McDonald — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:26:35 +0000

I think it’s somewhere between dumb, other, and genius. Politically, I think it’s a “let’s see what happens” move. Yeah, Americans are concerned about the economy, but what is happening on Wall Street is way out of the league of most Americans, myself included, to understand. It’s likely not easily understood by our leaders either. McCain’s “suspension” of his campaign to wade in the muck of the finance system has created may not look presidential at all. As far as leadership…he’s one senator out of 100 who are studying and debating the issue right now.

I don’t think Americans would have thought less of him if he didn’t step off the campaign trail for a while, and I’m not sure people will really think more of him because he did. Still, the possibility of a contrast being drawn between him and Obama on the issue is out there.

With the debate coming up, I think the Obama campaign is spot on by saying they can handle both. McCain should be able to handle both as well. It will be interesting to see what McCain, or Obama for that matter, contributes to trying to solve the financial dilemma we’re in. If they don’t have anything significant to add, then there isn’t much reason to not campaign and not debate.

By: MB

MB — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:06:54 +0000

So why *is* he doing it, do you think?

By: Jason Kenney

Jason Kenney — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:45:19 +0000

Initially the first debate was supposed to be on the economy. But the first debate is the most watched and foreign policy being McCain’s strongest suit and the one where Obama has to most convince voters made both camps want it sooner rather than later. You’re right that changing it now would throw them both off.

I find the argument from some that McCain is doing this because he is unprepared for a debate on foreign policy laughable.

By: Jeremy Hinton

Jeremy Hinton — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:26:19 +0000

I would love to see the debate go forward, but flip the topic to that of the third debate, economic and domestic policy. Of course, that would be like asking the candidates to run blindfolded through a minefield with snipers from either party on both sides, so i doubt that could ever happen.