Why does today's New York Times characterize John McCain's actions and motives regarding the first presidential debate in ways that the McCain campaign itself would applaud? The writers and editors seem to agree that McCain's actions are admirable; otherwise why describe them as "daring, unpredictable"? No doubt the Times editors would argue that "daring" is a neutral term and does not by itself imply that the action it is used to describe is admirable or not admirable. A bank robbery could be called "daring," after all. But McCain is not a bank robber (a robber of the taxpayer to pay banks, maybe); he is a man who, it is presumed, has integrity. Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines "daring" as "venturesomely bold in action or thought." Such a man we need as the next president, obviously!!! Thanks chaps.
McCain's actions could be called altruistic and apolitical, or opportunistic and ultra-political, but the particular reasoning or calculating that went on in the McCain camp cannot be known by anybody who was not there -- whether or not any staffer confides in a reporter.
And why does the Times choose to say in a headline "McCain suspends politicking, vowing to work on bailout deal"? How do they know he has suspended politicking? How do they know he is not hoping to capture more favorable poll numbers by returning to Washington than he ever could on the stump? He's already captured a couple of news cycles.
All that has happened is the September 11th-ing of the issue. The more grave the issue appears, the greater the potential it offers for capturing the moral high ground by appearing to renounce mere politics. Just like the best TV ad is the one that is disguised as real programming, so the best political advantage is to be gained from an issue that is presented as too grave to be politicized. George W. Bush realized this after Sept. 11, and he continues even now to play that card. If that seems too cynical, I say it's merely noting the cynicism of those who practice that ploy. John McCain has learned a few lessons from Bush, obviously--according to the Times, he invoked Sept. 11 in a meeting with reporters. "We must show that kind of patriotism now." By taking McCain's actions at face value, the Times has no doubt given him and his team a nice boost.