Comments on: Someone’s looking a little scared…

By: The Raving Atheist

The Raving Atheist — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:49:18 +0000

Jill, if there is a difference it’s one that cuts slightly in favor of McCain. The hurricane was not something that was particularly in the domain of either candidate or even Congress. The economic crisis, however, is plainly something that needs immediate Congressional attention. I thought both candidates looked pretty irrelevant out on the campaign stumping about tax cuts and avoiding comment on the bailout while negotiations continued in Washington.

McCain didn’t indicate he was suspending his campaign forever, but just for the duration of the immediate crisis. Apparently both he and Obama discovered that their presence wasn’t particularly welcome, and have returned to campaigning. I agree that McCain comes out looking a little stupider over all. But I still doubt that McCain announced the suspension due to an inability to multitask or for the purpose of avoiding the debate. It was mainly a stunt to show he was more serious about the economic crisis.

By: Jill

Jill — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 22:58:23 +0000

RA, you really don’t see the difference between canceling an appearance on a comedy show because of a natural disaster, and suspending your presidential campaign because of an economic disaster?

Yes, Obama was no doubt trying to appear serious when he cancelled SNL — as he should have. But a serious presidential candidate should be able to run his campaign while he deals with the nation’s various issues. Being able to maintain your position of leadership through crisis is kind of a requirement for a president.

By: The Raving Atheist

The Raving Atheist — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:46:53 +0000

The McCain suspension was probably at least in part a stunt, but really little different than Obama canceling Saturday Night Live for hurricane Ike. It’s not like he was out piling up sandbags. In each case they were just trying to look “serious.”

The notion that Obama will blow McCain out of the water is ridiculous. Obama is notoriously bad at unscripted appearances, which was the reason that McCain was after him to do town hall meetings all summer, and the reason Obama refused. Plus, having the debate a week later isn’t something that McCain would do if he thought Obama would trounce him — he’d rather have more time between the embarrassment and the election in which to recover.

By: RyanRutley

RyanRutley — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:52:30 +0000

This is phrase that will probably be a stale journalistic cliche by mid-October, but the wheels are coming off the Straight-Talk Express. This is a “you’ve got to be shitting me” to cap off weeks of “what the fuck?”

And, frankly, I think Obama looked Presidential in his press conference.

By: Bene

Bene — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 23:15:20 +0000

As I said at Hoyden About Town, having seen a clip from the latest Palin interview, I can see why they’re doing this stalling stuff. It is painful.

By: blondie

blondie — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:02:55 +0000

If the crisis and bailout issues in D.C. are so all-fired important that McCain cannot attend the debate, then perhaps he should send Sarah Palin to debate in his stead?

By: Natalia

Natalia — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:50:36 +0000

What is more important: taking care of our country’s business when in a crisis or going on with the demeaning, political selfishness campaigning?

He can campaign and take care of business.

He isn’t on any of the relevant committees either – wherein a stay in DC might seem more imperative.

By: Angela

Angela — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:19:40 +0000

This is nothing but old school politics at play and Obama has yet to figure out how to play the Washington game and what his next move should be. I’m almost certain had Biden been the Dem presidential nominee, he would have been on the Senate steps calling McCain out instead of making “joint statements” and saying the he and his GOP rival “agree in prinicple” that something needs to be done about the bailout issue.

Not only did McCain catch Obama off guard, he made him look like he can’t think quickly on his feet very well. His “rebuke” of McCain was downright awful. He missed a very good opportunity for a solid attack. Had McCain pulled this will Bill Clinton or Ronald Reagan, they would have politically sliced his throat and kept on going.

Ya know, the old dude is gasbag and the young dude ain’t got no gas at all.

I think I need an emesis bag, this going to be one long sick ride.

By: exholt

exholt — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:39:37 +0000

Though I see a minute few commenters were taken in by the pseudo-highminded choice of choosing to suspend democratic election processes to “serve the country”, why can’t Senator McCain and Obama do both?

This is not an either/or choice…….they can and should do both. This type of crap wouldn’t fly at most professional workplaces where one is EXPECTED to multitask….why should McCain be any different in that regard?!!

By: MaryC

MaryC — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:00:27 +0000

Letterman was right on the money. You don’t get to suspend being president when something bad happens, why should a candidate get away with suspending things?

Not to mention that McCain suggested moving the Presidential debate to Oct. 2… which just coincidentally, is when the VP debate was scheduled.