During "Suspension" McCain Grandstands, Advisers Attack

When John McCain announced yesterday that he was suspending his campaign to help everyone solve the economy, and inviting Barack Obama to do the same, I must admit -- at first, I tried to think unconventionally, and I allowed myself to consider whether McCain's gesture, while almost certainly quixotic, might be sincere. Of course, soon after, I peeped the tick-tock, and learned that it originated with Obama encouraging a joint statement on the matter. For his trouble, Obama and his campaign basically got blindsided by this "suspension" maneuver. This is apparent on its face, and really should quash any suspicion that McCain's decision to suspend his campaign and inject himself into the bailout proceedings was some sort of "Country First," non-political gesture.

Of course, another clear sign that this campaign suspension is pure bunk is the fact that no suspending of the campaign has actually occurred! As documented on last night's Late Show With David Letterman, McCain's hasty exit didn't find the candidate beating a path to the halls of power, to lay hands on the nation's economy. His next stop was to sit down with Katie Couric, after which, he went...nowhere? You know, despite all the danger the country was in. Today, his surrogates have been out on teevee, in clear contravention of the suspension order. Nicolle Wallace and Tucker Bounds both appeared on MSNBC, sandwiching themselves around a campaign appearance McCain made himself at the Clinton Global Initiative. Meanwhile, at 10:00 am this morning, the actual leaders on this matter began their actual work on the bailout package. It's fair to say that they've already outpaced all of McCain's contributions on the bailout matter, even if we include the lovely set of talking points his campaign drew up for campaign volunteers to use in discussion -- you know, the campaign volunteers whose activities are supposed to have been, uhm...suspended.

But McCain is an honorable man, after all, and he is, at some point, coming to Washington, at President Bush's behest, not in pursuit of personal ambition, but of Solutions for America, right? Right? At AMERICAblog, Joe Sudbay notes that today's schedule of events casts doubt on this contention:

At 4:00 p.m., (ABC News reported via email) George Bush, whose approval rating on the economy is at 16% with a 76% disapproval, will be hosting the White House photo-op (that's what Barney Frank is calling it). John McCain will be there for that session.

Let's be clear: McCain will miss the meeting about substance. But, McCain will be there for the grandstanding.

Where, exactly, is this suspension of campaigning?

Comments

[missedith]

Someone please tell me how he is getting away with this? HOW can polls still be close. Granted, in general I don't believe polls - but clearly there are some people out there who are being completely bamboozled by these theatrics.

And IF he shows up tonight, chances are it will be a big STORY wherein he flies in last minute...sweeping in like Batman (his stated hero) to save us all.

His hypocrisy makes me sick, but the fact that 48% of the public is buying it makes me far sicker.

[somefool]

Obama is Black and basically has to campaign with one hand tied behind his back. The American electorate is not known for the being the sharpest tool in the shed. What else do you need to know?

[MBryant]

He has time to do all three network news shows but not debate?

Interest in this election is very high. Participation in the primaries was record setting. TV audiences for the conventions were record setting. Ratings for the news election shows is high. I've talked to many people who say they are waiting on the debates to make their choice.

Is this John's last losing bet?

[LCRover001]

This is pure political theater.

John is suspending his campaign to ride to DC to fix the economic mess that is so urgent he hasn't even read the 2 and a half page plan, talked to any of the finance commission people on the left or the right, made one single coherent decision about what is going on what needs to be done to fix it or how to fix it, has said deregulation on Wall Street has lead to this but is with the GOP blocking the plan because they want more deregulation and instead of helping he has drug presidential politics into the middle of important negotiations that were making head way before he arrived on the scene.

John McCain should have stayed out of this and continued to monitor the situation, he should have been monitoring the situation from the start last week instead he and his campaign managers have been running around like chickens with their heads cut off Mac doesn't know what position he is going to be taking from one minuet to the next. Instead of bringing a senate advisor to the meeting with Bush he brought a campaign advisor.

Do we want a leader or a puppet, look at the campaigns who is leading who the runner or the campaign. Obama leads his campaign McCain is lead by his campaign. America needs a leader we had a puppet for 8 years and look how that turned out.

[LCRover001]

Now I know some of you think I don't like McCain and that is not so I just don't like this version of John McCain.

What ever happened to the 2000 Mac, I would vote for that guy. I voted for him in the primary I liked him more than any of the republican runners, but the more I heard and the more his policies turned into GWB policies the less I liked him. What took him off my ballot was his flip on running a decent campaign and what permanently removed him from my radar was his lying and hiring old Bush aids and K-street lobbyist to run his campain.

I say look at the campaign because that is where you see how people will lead. Are the runners leading their campaign or are they being run by it disregard all the talk and watch how it is handled. I have been watching and I have made up my mind 100% that Obama is a leader and McCain is a puppet. The proof is there for all to see. Just watch how the campaign is run and it is obvious who is a leader and who is a puppet on a string.

Look at our country folks and make the right choice. Do we want to build it back up or continue to tear it down? A leader will lead us out of this mess a puppet will not.

Pick a leader not a puppet.

[GiggidyGeshmoygen]

for your reading pleasure and alarm >>>>>>>

PALIN'S PARTY
by Michelle Goldberg
September 24, 2008 --- The Nation

The whole community [ of Wasilla ] changed," she said. "It became extremely rigid and intolerant, and you can see that in every election since." Palin, said O'Hara, "represents the worst of those values. She feels that because she's a member of the right church, she's chosen by God to inflict her values on everyone." The whole community changed," she said. "It became extremely rigid and intolerant, and you can see that in every election since." Palin, said O'Hara, "represents the worst of those values.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20081013/goldberg

[StillAmused]

Time to pop the canopy one last time, Senator... the deck's approaching really fast, and you're vertical.

[Avembe]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMDxN8Ff7Ps&feature=user
Thank you so much Mc CAIN

[wordvarc]

Hiding Palin and McSame are the essential efforts of the Palin-McSame campaign.

[LAThinker]

McCain does not know which way to run and how fast

http://www.ucubd.com/Index.aspx?id=747&cid=3147

[ggmome]

I just wanna know, whats going on? Who's on first and whats on second?

[bluerednot]

I saw somewhere that the McCain team has already requested that their ads begin running again on Saturday - really, really looks like the most important thing for McCain was to avoid the Debate & change the focus--- there has been so much insanity from McCain over the past two days that people are probably forgetting that on Wednesday, Obama was shown to have just pulled ahead by 9 points.

Seriously folks - would you want John McCain in discussions with a hostile adversary? I would be afraid that he would try some "stunt" like he is doing now !

[SunshineDaydream]

they never stopped running in florida

[JubilationLeigh]

They haven't stopped running in Ohio, either. Did he think we wouldn't notice?

[BeaFrank]

I am so tired of listening to the lies of the McCain campaign. Not for one second do I believe that McCain has the best interest of the American public. Personally sounds like all this huff and puff about suspending his campaign is just damage control. Trying desperately to mop up the mess that Palin made during her interiview with Katie Couric.

[JROY]

Late Afternoon/Early Evening Open Thread
by SusanG
Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 04:30:03 PM PDT

Slate predicts McCain's next 10 Hail Mary stunts:

1. Returns to Vietnam and jails himself.

2. Offers the post of "vice vice president" to Warren Buffett.

3. Challenges Obama to suspend campaign so they both can go and personally drill for oil offshore.

4. Learns to use computer.

5. Does bombing run over Taliban-controlled tribal areas of Pakistan.

6. Offers to forgo salary, sell one house.

7. Sex change operation.

8. Suspends campaign until Nov. 4, offers to start being president right now.

9. Sells Alaska to Russia for $700 billion.

10. Pledges to serve only one term. OK, half a term.

[ZeroBamaMan]

Those that produced an ad against John McCain concerning his age and cancer will be prosecuted for HIPPA violations.

[solbro]

bl ow me

[AKAchip]

That info is public knowledge- Nice try tr0 11 but no takers and no Hippo violations, either!

[chitown8]

Wrong Government employees running for office medical records are for review yet not all the details. Like STD's or Test he had ran!

[PeaceOnEarth62]

No sir, I am the HIPPA Privacy Officer within a large HMO and this is not a HIPAA violation.

>>Health Information Privacy and Portability Act
>>Quick read below:

Right to Request Restrictions: You have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your information. We are not required to honor your request. We encourage you to make these requests in writing.

[TenThings]

Hours AFTER HE SUSPENDED HIS CAMPAIGN, McCain also campaigned on CBS during his interview with Katie Couric.
One day AFTER McCain suspended his campaign, He also campaigned at the Clinton Global Initiative

[DCtrain]

McCain- The deceptive old man who is beyond retirement.

[crat4ever]

Conservatives function on anger and fury. They will lie, cheat, steal and break into political offices to win because they think that the ends justify the means. They think that only they can save the country and therefore it doesn't matter what needs to be done to get them into office, as long as they get there. Liberals operate on guilt. We think that if we do bad things, it makes us bad people. We set the bar higher for ourselves and for others. I would rather have a president who cares about others and has moral objections to deceit. Thanks McCain for showing America who you are!

[SunshineDaydream]

when inquiring about my own political leanings in college, a friend asked me if i wanted to help people or hurt people. i said help, of course, and he told me i was a democrat.