Regarding economy and debate, Obama probably knows how to use an iPhone
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“So, you know, I think the message is, if you need us, if I can be helpful, I’m prepared to be there at any point.“But, keep in mind, again, I’m talking to Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, the congressional leadership, Hank Paulson, I’m talking to them every single day. We have been working around the clock. And, you know, presidents are going to have to deal with more than one thing at a time. It’s not necessary for us to think that we can only do one thing and suspend everything else.” - Sen. Barack Obama, Democratic Nominee for President
With McCain rushing back to DC to be “Johnny-on-the-spot”…quite literally…and Obama effectively saying “call me if you need me”, this makes perfect sense if you think about the campaign.
Obama, given his propensity to text VP picks, will probably have his iPhone programmed with a couple of different icons:
A “dollar” sign to save the economy and an “atom” in case he needs to nuke somebody.
When he does so, I’m sure that he’ll also send off a tweet: “#raised taxes. sorry.”
See, even though SENATOR Obama has major legislation facing the economic future of our nation to vote on in the Senate, he actually doesn’t need to be there. He can text his peeps Nancy and Harry. They’ll know what to do.
Whereas that Neanderthal, McCain, whose stupid broken arms don’t 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 a lot to make sure Republicans turn out a bi-partisan bill.
Of course, McCain, who has been calling for townhall meetings every week since, what, June, now suddenly faces criticism for not attending Friday’s debate when there is a fiscal crisis and action in front of the body taxpayers have elected him to serve in.
Of course, Barack, the multi-tasker…now says that the American people want to see what the two men have to say:
I believe that we should continue to have the debate.
I think that it makes sense for us to present ourselves before the American people to talk about the nature of the problems that we’re having in our financial system, to talk about how it relates to our global standing in the world, what implications it has for our national security, how it relates to critical questions, like the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Nice to see that the tweeter-in-chief is now on-board with having a dialogue, but where has he been since June? And where will he be crafting economic policy that needs to be voted on in the body he actually HAS been elected to serve in?
on 
If the dude can’t live tweet a briefing while also texting about what he’s doing tonight I’m totally taking him out of my top friends…
But what’s so important for McCain to get back to DC tomorrow?
What’s so big NOW that wasn’t big yesterday or last week? I mean this doesn’t stink at all of political motivation to you guys?
Uh…Shane…you’re kidding, right? Despite my funnin’ here, even Obama recognizes the importance of legislative action by the Congress.
My point is that, as a legislator, Obama ought to be there too. Not just fly in for the vote or be “called” if he is needed.
I take your point, but do either of them… Obama or McCain truly have something to offer this debate that we haven’t heard already?
I don’t disagree at all that their job is Senator of their respective states and so yeah their duty should ultimately be to their constituents… but let’s look at this.
They already have the brightest economic minds in the biz working on this… Bernanke, no matter what people might say of him, is -very- familiar with economics being in the toilet… his entire thesis was about the Great Depression. Paulson likewise is an extremely accomplished economist and for my money I think knows intimately what’s going on.. plus anyone else who might know more than either of them are gonna be on Speedial. So… if it’s not an intelligence issue… then what? Legislation?
Ok.. how long does it take to fly from one coast to the other? 5 or 6 hours (even going against the headwind)?
My point being that unless either Obama or McCain have an “AH HA! I know how we can solve it!” situation, I don’t really see why it’s so vital for them to close down shop and head for DC. I’m open to the idea I’m missing something here, but I’m trying to understand and so far I’m not there.
Oh and just a tidbit in case anyone was interested (I was so I checked it out) did you guys ever catch where the magic number of $700 billion came from for this bailout?
I thought it curious since realistically speaking even the banks who have the MBS don’t even know how low the floor is on this thing… so how could Paulson/Bernanke come up with that as a number?
Because the -estimated- cost of the debt due to the MBS is between $500 billion and $1 trillion…. $700 billion is literally splitting the difference. I can’t say I blame them for using this tactic… but jesus… what if they’re wrong?
Oh and as a side note, I’m actually not in favor of the bailout.
JR - What happened to the previous post on McCain posponing his campaign?
Frenchy - It’s back. Something got clicked wrong during an edit. Sorry.
Jim, maybe Sen Obama has respect for his fellow Democrat and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who (wisely IMHO) requested the candidates keep their distance to try and keep the politics surrounding the race out of the negotiations (as much as possible anyway).
If either candidate were actually part of any of any of the various economic committees, i could see a stronger reason to be actually present for floor deliberations. I will say though, i would be very surprised if, when it comes time for a vote, either candidate missed it.
And by the way, McCain has missed 412 out of 643 votes this Congress, or 64%. Obama has missed 295, or 46%. McCain missed more votes than Sen Tim Johnson, the guy who was out almost a year recovering from a brain hemmorhage. I will appreciate it though when he shows up to vote on this one, presuming he does.
I see Shane beat me to the punch on some of the above, that’s what i get for interrupting a post in progress to tuck the kids in
Jeremy., I don’t know whether to react with vehemence or just to let it go.
What I am hearing reported is that McCain was ASKED by Reid to come back to broker a deal.
Somebody’s lying.
No problem Jeremy, the more comments the merrier. Besides which I think the more people who talk on this whole subject the better off we’ll ALL be.
Why would anyone request McCain’s assistance on this?
That just doesn’t make any sense… he’s admitted he’s not big into economics (and again, I don’t think that’s a -bad- thing, we all can’t be captains of everything) and he’s not on the finance committee.. so why him?
I’m not doubting the Dems did ask… I honestly don’t know… but why would they? Why would anybody?
Shane - Reid is quoted as saying that nothing would pass without McCain’s endorsement. That McCain needed to put his blessings on something for a solution to work. So McCain’s coming to Washington to do that, but now that he is Reid is saying he’s not needed.
They asked. They’re getting.
Jeremy - Monday and yesterday Reid was saying McCain needed to be involved if there was going to be any solution. Now McCain’s coming to roll up his sleeves and help and Reid’s saying, “no, wait, we don’t need you!” So either McCain has called his bluff or Reid was trying to set McCain up for rubber stamping something that they could pin on him as a failure.
See UPDATE 10 to post on McCain’s suspending his campaign.
Jeremy, Shane and others:
Reid on Monday:
Fearing a political backlash against Democrats, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has told the White House that it must serve up support from Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) if it hopes to ensure bipartisan backing for a massive economic bailout package by week’s end.
Reid on Tuesday:
We need the Republican nominee for president to let us know where he stands and what we should do.
Reid today:
[I]t would not be helpful at this time to have them come back during these negotiations and risk injecting presidential politics into this process or distract important talks about the future of our nation’s economy.
[...] as we read over at Bearing Drift, what Obama said was, “So, you know, I think the message is, if you need us, if I can be helpful, [...]
Jason,
Earlier this week, Reid was trying to avoid a trap that could be played out as detailed a post over at NextRight i posted about yesterday. Today, Reid’s statement IMHO was half sincere, and half politics, slamming McCain and covering for Obama.
If folks here want to play naive and see McCain’s going to DC to “roll up his sleeves” as purely in the good of the country and ignore the political stunt factor, then i’ll do the same and take Reid at face value.
No it’s a load of crap. Are we really expected to think that even a minor part of McCain’s motivation to going back to DC was in any way influenced on his concern over what Democrats thought? Are you freakin kidding me?
I think FDR could have risen from the grave, hovered his wheelchair across the Reflecting Pool and asked McCain to come back to DC “because Democrats want him there” and McCain wouldn’t have batted an eye.
I don’t disagree with the notion that McCain’s trip back to DC was to make a political party happy, but it wasn’t the Dems.
[...] Yesterday John McCain announced he was suspending his campaign and returning to Washington to help deal with the current economic crisis. Many questioned this move, Barack Obama going so far as to reject McCain’s appeal for Obama to join him in helping deal with this issue instead of playing politics and saying leaders in Washington can call him if they need him. [...]