McCain suspends campaign, asks for Friday debate to be postponed

Interesting move. Frankly I'd rather they still debate on Friday, but instead change the topic from whatever it is going to be to talking about this issue and what they believe the country should do next.

I suspect he is fearful that the debate would be sidetracked from foreign policy to economic policy, and rightly reasons that one or both of them might say something to inflame panic as they go after one another. I think this is a mistake, because the message should be "this is a big issue, but we can't stop like deer caught in the headlights."

Oh yeah, because this is certainly NOT the time for dialog.

I love this Republican attitude - there's a terrorist attack and a war, so now is NOT the time for public discussion on this!

There's an economic crisis, so now in NOT the time for public discussion on this matter.

Just shut up and unquestioningly accept what your authorities say is best.

Obey.

Money is your God.

Marry and reproduce.

Nothing to see here.

Ignorance is Strength.

You forgot Victory is Life.

Meh, I wasn't expecting much better than the debate between Jack Johnson and John Jackson from Futurama anyway.

Um, yeah.

Clearly McCain is ignoring everyone in his attempt to grandstand.

Quite a lot of campaigning going on in this suspended campaign ploy...

I know this might be a bit confusing for you considering that your guy hadn't even finished moving his shit into the Senate before running off to start his Presidential campaign but before posting your little histrionic rant did you ever consider that maybe McCain wanted to delay the debate because the people who elected him and pay for his salary need for him to go to DC and actually do his job for a little while to help solve this crisis?

He can do his job, and debate on Friday. We have airplanes now. He can get to Mississippi in two hours. This is a stunt because he's dropping like a stone in the polls.

Helping the country is smart politics.

Its what they are supposed to do.

If Obama's campaign hits him for this it will be Obama sinking like a stone.

Instead he'll have to fall in line and help out.

Its a win for McCain - by doing his job.

edit - vandy, Or, you could take it as yet another sign of his superior leadership instincts. Having a debate focusing exclusively on foreign policy at this particular time would show that neither of them really have a handle on the number one issue concerning most people. Obama should be shamed that he didn't consider and propose this first.

Might makes right! Right makes might! Fight fight fight!!!

Wait, McCain has been campaigning?

Link?

I see no reason why they couldn't change the topic of the debate to the economy. This is the time we need to hear how they feel about these issues. Go to Washington for the week, then hop on a flight to Mississippi.

I'm not sure that a knock-down drag-out debate is the best thing right now. I know we're in deep kimchee but the psychological aspects of this are important, too. There needs to be some form of unified voice projecting confidence and less political posturing while a strategy is worked out.

As I said above -- too easy for one or both to cause a panic.

Well, Obama sure as fuck ain't.


(I think he's napping, but I am not sure...)

This is an interesting card to play. Not expected at all. If the debate wasn't involved in this quick left turn, it wouldn't be quite as risky a gambit. I would put money on the fact that this threw the Dem campaign hard.

Essentially he's playing the "whoa, wait, come on Obama, we've got a job to do" card. It might improve his "I don't know jack shit about the economy" problem as well.

If Obama doesn't follow suite, he's opened himself up big time.

THAT'S A FUCKIN' PIMP MOVE!

I just read that Obama's campaign says the debate is still going on. If Obama doesn't change his mind and agree to a postponement then McCain should just not show up.

In fact McCain can have a press conference on the steps of the capital talking about how he is working to help solve this crisis while Obama is doing squat.

This is great for McCain. He gets to pretend that he (mister "Well, I'm no economic expert") is actually doing something, and he gets to avoid a debate (that can only hurt him) with Obama at a time when he's down in the polls.

(In fact, I think he'll used this to avoid next week Biden-Palin debate as well. Since he's knows that Plain will get her ass handed to her. Fuck, since his will NOT be solved in a few days - or months even - McCain can just avoid debate all together! And I sure hope he gets teh woman who left Wassilla with a huge debt in on his brain trust! )

And if Obama doesn't follow suit, he looks like he puts politics before country.

And of course you people will just eat it all up.

Well played McCain...to bad this isn't just a game.

Which part of the word 'postponed' did you not fucking understand?

This is the same John McCain that whined like a little baby when Barack Obama wouldn't join him for ten town hall debates on his terms. Brilliant move Kowalski.

Christ!

Somebody get bryce and Damar a Midol. Quick!

I think this backfires on McCain, I think people want to hear the debate. I don't think the whole " be afraid, just listen to us" gambit works anymore. Bush used it up.
The going to Washington part works for McCain, I have no idea why he threw the debate thing in....
ooo Obama is talking now.

So how long does Lord Palpitane plan this temporary suspension to last? Has he set a date? When the economy is faxed? (Because that is not gonna happen overnight, Goldilocks.)

Ha...Obama just said he wants the debate to go forward. (And that a president should be able to multitask.)

Maybe I am wrong...this could make McCain look like he is turning tale and running to hide. (Which he is.)

A debate with Barry "I have to take my teleprompter everywhere I go to keep me from saying something foolish" O can only HURT McCain?

Did you see McCain on 60 Minutes this past week?

He stuttered a lot when the economic crisis was brought up.

The man looked like he had more nervous ticks than a Lime disease research facility...

Ha, Obama looks like a leader now on TV, and McCain looks like he is grandstanding. (Which he is.)

Yet strangely, Obama will be forced to do exactly what McCain challenged him to do.

Leadership is getting people to follow you, and Obama is going to be smelling McCain's ass on this one.

The term is Presidential.