McSame can't debate his way out of a paper bag and he knows it. He's running away because he can't win a debate against Obama. Obama will answer questions intelligently and lay out proposals worthy of serious consideration, while McSame will dodge the questions and be like, "hey I was one the stupidest one percent in my graduating class - kewl, huh?"

So he's beating feet to a hasty retreat, and yelling over his back how his retreat is really a victory ride to save the economy. Oh, yeah, that's convincing straight talk if ever there was any.

No, what he's going to do is go join his BFF Georgie Porgie in begging Daddy Taxpayer to bail him out of the fine mess they've gotten us into because they didn't know what the heck the were doing and don't know how to fix it themselves.

What you won't see: adults taking responsibility for their sorry past actions.

Disgusting.

So come Thursday morning, what media narrative about John McCain's campaign suspension and rush to Washington will stick? Will it be John McCain, the hero and maverick, putting politics aside to put his "country first" as he has so many times before? Or, will it be John McCain, the desperate and flailing politician who is trying to cynically use the country's severe economic crisis for his own benefit, calling his entire campaign slogan into question?

Reading some of the analysis coming out early this morning, I tend to believe the media is seeing through this latest stunt. Can you believe it?

Harold Meyerson, Washington Post:

"Can McCain pull this off - persuading the public to forget how he and his fellow Reagan Republicans changed the nation's economic rules in ways that allowed Wall Street to run amok, and refocusing its attention on his decisiveness at this moment of crisis? I doubt it.

McCain's ploy was transparent."

*

Todd Gillman, The Dallas Morning News:

"Democrats accused Mr. McCain of pulling a stunt to halt a slide in the polls. They also tweaked him for declaring the economic situation so dire it requires suspension of his campaign, a week after he declared the fundamentals of the economy are sound.

Some independent analysts agreed. "It is a stunt. It is a ploy," said David S. Birdsell, dean of the school of public affairs at Baruch College in New York, an expert on presidential debates.

He called it a "very high-risk strategy" for Mr. McCain to take responsibility for brokering a solution to the economic crisis. "He's not president yet," Dr. Birdsell said, adding that pulling out of a debate is unprecedented. "That notion that we take one of the most sacred obligations and rituals of American politics and suspend it because there's an urgent national question is highly problematic."

*

Rocky Mountain News (CO) Editorial Page:

"If Winston Churchill could leave London in December 1941 and travel to America to address a joint session of Congress even as British troops in the Far East were reeling under Japanese attacks, somehow we think John McCain can make his way down to Oxford, Miss., for a debate Friday evening without imperiling the future of America. In this case, Barack Obama is right."

*

John Dickerson, Slate:

"Even more than his selection of Sarah Palin as running mate, this gambit feels like a wild improvisation someone in the McCain team mapped out on his chest: OK, you run to the fire hydrant, cut left, and then when he gets to the Buick, John, you heave it.

It's not clear what exactly McCain is going to do in Washington. He doesn't sit on any of the relevant committees and everyone is already deep in negotiations. Still, he's coming anyway. It doesn't make much logical sense."

*

Thomas Defrank, NY Daily News (with the photo caption: Bold... or bonkers?)

"Still, there's an old saying in politics: Think political, but never look political. Given McCain's timing, this seems more political than altruistic. "It looks like a desperate stunt," said another GOP political consultant who worked for a McCain primary opponent. "McCain could have bailed out of the debate a week ago if this was really about the merits."

*

New York Times Editorial:

"We don’t know if Mr. McCain or Mr. Obama will do any good back in Washington. But Mr. McCain’s idea of postponing the Friday night debate was another wild gesture from a candidate entirely too prone to them. The nation needs to hear Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain debate this crisis and demonstrate who is ready to lead."

*

Deron Snyder, Florida News-Press:

"I guess John McCain thinks postponing Friday's debate is the noble thing to do, putting politics aside to work on the financial mess. But the suggestion alone is pure politics, with McCain hoping for a win-win scenario."

*

Wall Street Journal Editorial:

"Last we checked, the President of the United States was still George W. Bush, the Secretary of the Treasury was still Henry Paulson, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve was still Ben Bernanke, and Congress still had 533 members not running for President who are at least nominally competent to debate and pass legislation.

So count us as mystified by Senator John McCain's decision yesterday to suspend his campaign and call for a postponement in Friday's first Presidential debate so that he and Barack Obama can work out a consensus bill to stabilize the financial system. This is supposed to be evidence of leadership?"

I could go on and on since I found so many examples of the media seeing through this latest political stunt from the McCain campaign but I'll stop here. I think the reaction I've been reading indicates that the debate will go forward as planned on Friday - maybe with more emphasis on the economy - and McCain will just end up looking like a big fool.

Don't miss this gem.

He lost David Letterman...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjkCrfylq-E

I'm soooo glad that Obama won't cut and run from the debates.
And did you see that Palin might also cut and run?

That's what flailing and desperation look like, my friends.

McCain's $5,000 Makeup: Will There Be Backlash?
(13 times more than Edwards' haircut, and 17 times more than Romney's makeup.)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/24/mccains-5000-makeup-will_n_128973.html

Don't count on it, my friends. He couldn't afford even a comb for 5 and 1/2 years.

Defies gravity. (Both kinds)

So you all fell for that?

I just saw McCain on CNN campaigning.

He had the media's attention, he was speakin they were listening.

I had to laugh because on the bottom of the screen it said that he had put a hold on his campaign and yet there he was campaigning.

I have to give him credit for that play.

As for the economic system, the flaws are articulated in detail as well as the solution in detail on coinage.me. Much better than any of the so called professionals or experts I have seen on TV. Very few on the planet can actually grasp it. But I think on this site it is written so everyone can understand.

Especially if you read the article about the flawed monopoly type game.

[Just click my name]

There is wisdom.

Don't let the fox guard the hen house.

Closing in on the deal. Looks like the Bush pigs are caving on key elements and we're getting the major parts of what Obama wanted. McCain, meanwhile, wants to swoop in and take credit for others' work. Just like a Republican pig.

MSNBC reports:

"Paul Kanjorski, D-Pa., chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises, told CNBC Thursday morning that Republicans and Democrats have made "tremendous progress" on the bailout plan. A deal could be in place before financial markets open on Monday morning, he said."

"The package is basically done, the hard issues are resolved," Kanjorski said. "This is almost a done deal, but I can’t announce it because that’s not my role."

"Senior lawmakers and Bush administration officials have cleared away key obstacles to a deal on the unprecedented rescue, agreeing to include widely supported limits on pay packages for executives whose companies benefit.

They’re still wrangling over major elements, including how to phase in the eye-popping cost — a measure demanded by Democrats and some Republicans who want stronger congressional control over the bailout — without spooking markets. A plan to let the government take an ownership stake in troubled companies as part of the rescue, rather than just buying bad debt, also was under intense negotiation."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26884523/

We need warrants.

Meanwhile, Barney Frank is telling it like it is about the Bush-McCain photo op:

"Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., who has led negotiations with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on the package, said that given the progress of the talks, the White House meeting was a distraction.

"We’re going to have to interrupt a negotiating session tomorrow between the Democrats and Republicans on a bill where I think we are getting pretty close, and troop down to the White House for their photo op," said Frank, the House Financial Services Committee chairman. "I wish they’d checked with us."

[msnbc]

McCain's grandstanding can only hurt.

Chris Dodd and Chuck Schumer:

"We are pleased to report we are making bipartisan progress on a rescue proposal for our financial markets. During these discussions, we have received significant cooperation and constructive feedback from the other side of the aisle -- with one notable exception. Apart from his unproductive criticisms made from afar, we have heard nothing from Senator McCain on these critical issues. Now is certainly not the time for him to inject presidential politics into these delicate discussions."

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0908/Dems_dont_welcome_McCain.html?showall

Dems need to keep calling out McCain on his bullshit.

For those who missed it, here's Barack Obama's press conference from yesterday:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41F_oof_gu0

#8
"I had to laugh because on the bottom of the screen it said that he had put a hold on his campaign and yet there he was campaigning."

Apparently, he hasn't removed his campaign ads too.

Ben Smith reports:

"Suspending, station by station

Readers in Iowa and Wisconsin emailed to say that they saw seen McCain ads on the air this morning, though he's said he's taking them down.

Never fear, says spokesman Brian Rogers:" We started pulling them down yesterday afternoon. This takes time."

[Politico]

Why isn't McCain debating again?

McCain's justifications for postponing Friday's debate seem to be slipping away.

First, contrary to previous assumption, Friday's debate will include questions about the economy:

"A senior Obama adviser says that the CPD has told both campaigns that there will be questions about the economic crisis during Friday's debate.

They were told this last week..."

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/09/fridays_debate_will_focus_in_p.php

And while McCain seems to insist that the bailout package would fail spectacularly without him, the reports contradict him:

"Deal close on $700 billion financial bailout plan

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush is bringing presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain into negotiations on a $700 billion rescue of Wall Street as Democrats and Republicans near agreement on a bailout plan with more protections for taxpayers and new help for distressed homeowners.

Senior lawmakers and Bush administration officials have cleared away key obstacles to a deal on the unprecedented rescue, agreeing to include widely supported limits on pay packages for executives whose companies benefit."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080925/ap_on_bi_ge/financial_meltdown

After today's photo-op at the White House, what function, exactly, is McCain planning to play in the negotiations?

Ta-Nehisi Coates over at The Atlantic watched the Katie Couric interview with Sarah Palin. He writes:

"Not as bad as Gibson, but good lord. This campaign is now officially surreal. If Palin is supposed to be the "ordinary American" she passed that test--she really does sound like an ordinary American. Her answers sound like the responses Couric would get if she interviewed one of my friends. At three A.M. After a night of drinking."

http://ta-nehisicoates.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/09/couric_interview_palin.php

At this phase, with her running-mate trying to postpone Friday's debate so he can visit the Senate where he has not shown up to vote on dozens of crucial bills since April, it's hard to know who is having the worse effect on the Republican campaign.

Google Great Golden Egg Hunt

just in time, the Gold Rush of 2008

"seek the gold within and find the gold without"

[click my name] and prosper who can find the Cyberspace and Geospace eggs?

A test of a spiritual metal.

Google Great Golden Egg Hunt

just in time, the Gold Rush of 2008

"seek the gold within and find the gold without"

[click my name] and prosper who can find the Cyberspace and Geospace eggs?

A test of a spiritual metal.

Hello Gotham and Everyone,

Well, how many of you fellow Americans feel better, less worried, a bit more grounded, now, that Johnny has dropped everything and rushed back to Washington, DC and his President? Yes, Johnny, stands, at the ready, a salute, to his C&C, President Bush, a nod ,to the media, and press, just a nod tough, no frolicking around with the usual kissy, kissies....this is serious business, trying to keep the Nation up and running after all Wall St's funny business that has left us high and dry. One week away from knocking on the doors of China, India, and Iran, with tin cup in hand....totally reduced to the beggars we have become.......oh, to once have known greatness, only, to have it squandered away, not exactly, overnight, more like, the slow seven yr flow....from mortgage boom to mortgage all gone. Here we stand, oh, should I say, here we lie, face down in the dirt, struggling to get back up.....ah, here comes, our Johnny, to give us a hand, Oh, you say you are not as strong as you used to be, Johnny, so, you are going to let Palin do all the heavy lifting.....hmmmmm, ain't that just like a man.....that is our Johnny, ex POW, true Patriot, but not without a little bit of left over chauvinism.....godda love him, you do.

Johnny, the maverick that once was, is, now, America's number one drama queenie.....

Do you think President Bush gave him a get out of the debate free card?

hmmmm....tune in for more high drama election coverage....at Fox TV where Greta said last night...."that one Candidate did the right thing....while the other didn't"....."don't go away we will tell you all about it later".....I wonder which fave Fox TV Candidate...did the right thing and I wonder what right thing she was talking about?......no, FOX TV is not subtle in shoveling their sheet right smack into their views faces.....our Johnny dropped all campaigning and flew his sass back to DC....while that angry dark fellow acted like everything was just hunkie dorie.....and to think he wants to be our next President, the nerve of him!

have a great day, ruth

"Do you think President Bush gave him a get out of the debate free card?"

har har har har

SusanG at Daily Kos writes:

McCain Campaign Suspension Suspended

Andrew Sullivan has reports from two different readers in two different media markets that McCain ads are up and running as relentlessly as ever.

David Kurtz at Talking Points Memo reports on McCain surrogate Nancy Pfotenhauer appearing on Fox to attack Obama, and then scooting on over to the Washington Times for a friendly little chat about the campaign.

Guess we'll be seeing McCain at the debates tomorrow since he's decided to keep his campaign going. Right?

*****
*****

McCain Hasn't Read Paulson's Plan

But he'll skip the debate because of the seriousness of the financial crisis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnsNOEgp-_o

ANCHOR: As for the massive Wall Street bailout McCain insists it have...

JM: Oversight that is effective and transparent. We need people like Warren Buffet and Mike Bloomberg and Mitt Romney to have an oversight of this. We can’t put that responsibility in the hands of one person.

ANCHOR: The crunch question. Would you vote for it as it’s presently constructed?

JM: I have not had a chance to see it in writing so I have to examine that.

And remember, the plan is only three pages long.

Update: Just to be clear, this was an interview given Tuesday, September 23, to NBC in Cleveland, Ohio.

McCain Panics When He's Losing

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/25/105250/467/235/609975

"We know John McCain likes to gamble (craps is his preferred game). And we know when he's losing, because he always does something unsettling to, as Richard Wolffe put it 'upset the chessboard'.

When Obama nailed his acceptance speech, McCain sensed an impending loss and went for the Hail Mary with Sarah Quayle Palin. We said at the time it would prove to be a disaster for McCain in the long run, and we were right. All the polls not only show her popularity dropping (below Obama's and below McCain's), they also show majorities and pluralities coming to the conclusion she is not qualified to be President. That drag on the top of the ticket was not a 'game-changer', and how much of a drag is only now becoming clear to the talking heads.

Similarly, McCain sensed he was going to lose this election because of his own statements about not being an economics expert, that the 'fundamentals were strong' on a day the market was tanking, on association with Phil (Americans are a bunch of whiners) Gramm and other economic advisors who so clearly had only disdain for ordinary Americans, and on general anger at this administration for getting us into this mess. Given that, and his poor poll performance, he went to the well to rail against the librul media for not being campaign stenographers, and when that didn't work, he tried to suspend his campaign and cancel both his and Palin's debate as if it weren't important for the American people to see the candidates side by side.

In fact, all he accomplished is to make Obama look Presidential, and himself and his sycophants look panicked. Americans don't want an unsure hand at the wheel as President, and his outbursts (fire someone, inject presidential politics into the work of Congress) are hardly reassuring as a measure of Presidential temperament.

In the meantime, the media is getting out of the habit of rewarding bad behavior by crediting McCain with desperation in the form "boldness". That is not something that wears well over time. Still, media people have to get their heads straight about what matters:

'McCain's campaign has been remarkable in its ability to -- in the words of NBCs Tom Brokaw -- engage in guerilla political tactics, which allow him to win political battles that on paper he shouldn't be winning. And this debate gambit is the latest example of this (following his town hall challenge the day after Obama clinched the Dem nomination, and even his pick of Sarah Palin). But while McCain has proven adept at winning these battles, can he ultimately win the war?'

What matters is the war, not the battles. McCain's tactics have completely eroded his brand as an honorable campaigner. There is no getting that back. That means when McCain in retrospect lies about how important he was to the Congressional bailout process, it won't stick. he's full of these gimmicks, and everyone knows it (see David Letterman, see the View). By the way, if media wants to claim that McCain 'had to do this' because he was losing, then they owe us the honesty of telling us he was losing. Funnily enough, they never do that part. No matter. We do.

Bottom line: this not a guy we want anywhere near the WH when it matters. And if you want to know why, just watch what happens and how McCain acts when he's losing. It's not pretty."

click on my name for a very nice NYT shot of Obama looking Presidential, cool and serious.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/09/25/us/25obama-600.jpg

Here's a classic, (not serious, but cool and confident):

http://www.britannica.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/obama2.jpg

Did you read this on Story Line?

"Congress being blackmailed by Wall Street, wealth extorted from citizens."

Click my name

It is a few pages inward story line threads "current news".

Are you guys saying McCain fears a debate?

More painful Palin excerpts from Couric interview
by kos

"Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/25/141534/323/1003/610224

COURIC: You've cited Alaska's proximity to Russia as part of your foreign policy experience. What did you mean by that?

PALIN: That Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia, and on our other side, the land-- boundary that we have with-- Canada. It-- it's funny that a comment like that was-- kind of made to-- cari-- I don't know, you know? Reporters--

COURIC: Mock?

PALIN: Yeah, mocked, I guess that's the word, yeah.

COURIC: Explain to me why that enhances your foreign policy credentials.

PALIN: Well, it certainly does because our-- our next door neighbors are foreign countries. They're in the state that I am the executive of. And there in Russia--

COURIC: Have you ever been involved with any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?

PALIN: We have trade missions back and forth. We-- we do-- it's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where-- where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is-- from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to-- to our state.

You have to watch her. It's mesmerizingly horrendous. Watch how she says "as Putin rears his head".

Update [by DemFromCT]:: Oy. Watching Sarah Palin in this interview, I'm thinking McCain accidently picked Mary Richards from the old Mary Tyler Moore Show to run for VP. Now that's a great move – if what the nation needed was perky.

Alas, I think this country needs something more."

Breaking: Agreement Reached on Bailout Package

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/25/1383/00302/64/610130

"Dodd and Barney Frank seem pleased that the bill will include tax payer protections. Executive pay limits will be part of the bill. They have dealt with effective oversight on home ownership preservation as well. At this point it is unclear whether warrants will be granted to the Fed for any company who participates (thus giving the Fed an equity stake in the company). My hunch is that they will.

Note that this is a bipartisan agreement and one that has been reached with BOTH the Senate and House leaders.

The timing of this is brilliant. McCain just got out of his limo and into his office. He can't say he was there to make it happen or take any credit for helping to push it through.

I loved this verbal jab by Barney Frank during the impromptu press conference:"We should note that some of us have been invited to go to the White House today to try and break a deadlock. And I'm glad that we'll be able to go and tell them that there really isn't much of a deadlock to break...but I'm always glad to get to go to the White House.

For more information, see the Wall Street Journal article HERE.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122235295272975207.html

Per the Wall Street Jornal:

"A bipartisan group of House and Senate lawmakers left a two-hour-plus meeting in the U.S. Capitol on Thursday saying they have a "fundamental agreement" on a $700 billion plan to bail out U.S. financial markets.

The group of nine lawmakers declined to offer details about the legislation, but Republican Sen. Robert Bennett of Utah expressed optimism that lawmakers have a "plan that will pass the House and Senate."

UPDATE WSJ now reports that the $700 billion will be paid in installments, starting with $250 billion. And, the Government WOULD get warrants (equity stakes) in any company that participates in the program. These provisions are big wins for Democrats.

UPDATE 2 According to KOS, Rep. Boehner is saying no deal has been reached. I'm calling bullshit on this. It's just a political stunt designed to postpone the official announcement and make it seem like McCain was there when the deal was reached. He wasn't. Sorry Boehner."

McCain planing to vote NO?

From Marc Ambinder:

"My colleague Nora McAvalnah tells me that sources close to Senate Democratic leadership
now fear that McCain's true motivation for calling off his campaign and coming back to DC is simply to cast a "no" vote against the bailout, despite his private statements to the contrary. And it's a smart maneuver: nothing says "maverick," like voting against Bush and standing with the American public, who remain very wary of the proposal."

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/09/scrambling_toward_a_compromise.php

Christopher at Daily Shocker weighs in:

"Political ploy. He’s building his case for voting no; if it doesn’t have his name on it, he’ll vote no. I don’t think the American public are buying his suspension decision, but will they buy his reasoning for voting no? Is it a strong platform to stand on, or is it just as transparent as the suspension.

This is shaping up to be a real “Cross of Gold” moment. It’s been telegraphed for a while now, so Obama’s camp is well aware of it. They’ve got to have some plan for this occurance, and the Democratic leadership will, as well.

God, is this half as sickening to anyone else as it is to me?"

http://www.dailyshocker.com/trap/

"Now We Know Why The McCain Campaign Is Hiding Palin" by BarbinMD at Daily Kos:

"While nowhere near as idiotic as Sarah Palin's tortured explanation of her foreign policy experience, this gem from yesterday's trainwreck of an interview with Katie Couric is worth a mention. Via Think Progress:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npUMUASwaec

COURIC: Why isn’t it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries? ... Instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?

PALIN: Ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up the economy– Oh, it’s got to be about job creation too. So health care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions.

Update by kos: I just want to make sure you guys understood this answer properly about the $700 billion bailout:

Reducing taxes 'has' to be accompanied by tax reductions.

Got it? Good. Carry on."

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/25/14357/9792/960/610251

Glenn Greenwald, who had previously defended Palin from attacks:

"But Sarah Palin's performance in the tiny vignettes of unscripted dialogue in which we've been allowed to see her has been nothing short of frightening -- really, as I said, pity-inducing. And I say that as someone who has thought from the start that the criticisms of her abilities -- as opposed to her ideology -- were much too extreme. One of two things is absolutely clear at this point: she is either (a) completely ignorant about the most basic political issues -- a vacant, ill-informed, incurious know-nothing, or (b) aggressively concealing her actual beliefs about these matters because she's petrified of deviating from the simple-minded campaign talking points she's been fed and/or because her actual beliefs are so politically unpalatable, even when taking into account the right-wing extremism that is permitted, even rewarded, in our mainstream. I'm not really sure which is worse, but it doesn't really matter, because with 40 days left before the election, both options are heinous."

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/09/25/palin/

#27

Did you see her squeal and get excited?

Katie asked her if the $700 billion bailout is more important for Wallstreet over Main Street. And she really loses me with her response trying to outline how we have to shore up our economy. But then...wait...there's a moment...you'll catch it.. you'll see a light go on and she gets so excited.

"Oh...its about job creation!" Then she rambles about trade opportunity that's not scarey or something. Oh well, the light went off.

But she was so proud she remembered one of her Chatty Kathy pull cord lines. You go Caribou Barbie!!!

Our lil baby is growin up in front of us guys...soon she'll be able to sit up and crawl, then feed herself!

McCain Avoiding The Debate? It's Happened Before
by BarbinMD at Daily Kos

'With his poll numbers tanking, John McCain wants to pull out of the presidential debate. No, I'm not talking about tomorrow's debate with Barack Obama.

"With new polls showing his campaign dead in the water among California Republicans, Arizona Sen. John McCain has pulled out of a long-scheduled debate with Texas Gov. George Bush, set for Thursday in Los Angeles.

McCain campaign officials tried desperately yesterday to put the best face on their withdrawal, even as a new Field Poll showed Bush far ahead among likely Republican voters in the winner-take-all race for the state's 162 GOP delegates. [...]

The bait and switch on the debate left the Arizona senator -- whose favorite campaign line is "I'll always tell you the truth'' -- wide open to blistering criticism from his rivals.

"Clearly, this is more double-talk from the McCain campaign,'' said Alixe Mattingly, a spokeswoman for Bush. "Pulling out of this debate at the last minute is an indication that they're pulling out of California, where McCain's antagonistic message clearly isn't working.''"

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2000/02/28/MN62687.DTL&hw=mccain+opinsky&sn=001&sc=1000

And clearly, John McCain has a habit of trying to cut and run when things aren't going his way.'

# 29 DOT,

I think you've hit on something.

I was trying to figure out how to verbalize how this situation strikes me. She seems like a child who has been taken advantage of, really. She is so desperately unprepared for all of this, it stirs feelings in me of anger at McCain for putting her through this.

I know she is dangerous shit, but I just can't help but feel sorry for her. I mean it's way beyond politics. It's genuinely unfair on so many levels.

just read this at google.com news

"Pakistani and American ground troops exchanged fire along the border with Afghanistan on Thursday after the Pakistanis shot at two American helicopters, ratcheting up tensions as the United States increases its attacks" ...

so, how far do you think the republicans will go to bring home their point that John McCain is the "experienced" one in times of battle?

pondering just how many rabbits the republicans are going to pull out of their hat in order to bring their Candidate to the White House...dropping everything and running back to Washington seemed to be unimpressive so maybe they need to try another angle....I am sure Fox TV will have the scoop on the Pakistan/American conflict that is starting to sizzle on the back burner.

ruth

Never mind Palin, she is now small fry.

But can you imagine McCain trying to use the very delicate situation around the bail out proposal to his advantage? This guy hasn’t even read Paulson’s three-page bailout proposal before suspending his campaign but now wants to appear as a major player in all of this.

Shame on you John McCain.

I must say, Palin is scary!

Yeah Ruth, if we get into a shooting war with Pakistan, a third front in our middle-east wars, this will not be good . . .

Putin is smiling, Ahmadinejad is laughing, the Chinese are spacewalking; while here in America the rich are getting richer with money that is not even real, and we are hopelessly bogged down in the Middle East!

I don't know . . .

peace

MCcain is bery, bery afraid to get his bery, bery bery old ass royally kicked...which is why he's using this Wall St. melt-down as an excuse to chicken out a tomorrow's debate....shame on u dino! like they say, u can run but u can't hide.

i echo ur sentiments, emperor!

and these power-greedy, nasty republicans...after the horrible nightmare they put this country into... want us to give them four more yrs? yeah...right!

It appears a good bet McCain will show up for the debate. He will lose but will still be alive after.

Not showing up and the landslide will be on. Mind you, there is always the unexpected.

Well Craig, maybe you should repost some of your “revolution stuff”?
Just kidding, it is good to see you in the frame of mind you are in now,
Skep

"Mind you, there is always the unexpected." says a big CS fan..

an october surprise...perhaps? wait a minute...

the biggest surprise in this whole con job so far is that fly-by-night, joanie come lately scary palin...who runs away from the media like she's got poop in her pantz...eeeuuuhhh!

Hi Gang,

Well one of the side effects of this mess on wall street is going to be the creation of a whole lot of new millionaires, all former billionaires! hehehe

Cheers
Stan

Paulson agrees Republicans trying to blow up deal!

This from ABC News:

"Stephanopoulos: Paulson Fears Deal May Collapse

September 25, 2008 6:05 PM

ABC News' George Stephanopoulos Reports: Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson fears the Wall Street bailout deal is falling apart after a chaotic White House meeting, sources say.

Paulson walked into the room where Democrats were caucusing after today's meeting at the White House and pleaded with them, "Please don't blow this up."

Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., chair of the House Financial Services Committee was livid saying, "Don't say that to us after all we've been through!"

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, "We're not the ones trying to blow this up; it's the House Republicans."

"I know, I know," Paulson replied."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/09/stephanopoulo-6.html

Even the Bush Administration officials know that its their party who is playing politics with the most serious economic situation since the great depression.

John McCain injected presidential politics and the republicans followed suit, what a disgrace.

Obama is endorsed by the largest number of Nobel Laureates ever. Read their open letter to the American people, signed by 61 Nobel Laureates:

http://scienceblogs.com/voteforscience/2008/09/61_nobel_laureates_in_science.php

Dodd: Meeting Was A "Rescue Plan For John McCain"

http://mydd.com/story/2008/9/25/1953/34949

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McCain Will Do the Network News, But Not a Debate?

http://mydd.com/story/2008/9/25/18538/8218

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So When You Say "Suspending..."

Surrogates and advisors on the teevee attacking Obama? Check.

Campaign ads still on the air? Check.

Online fundraising still operational? Check.

Still meeting with campaign manager? Check.

Campaign offices open for business? Check.

VP running mate still out campaigning? Check. Check.

The Obama campaign is on it. This from a campaign memo:

"So make no mistake: John McCain did not "suspend" his campaign. He just turned a national crisis into an occasion to promote his campaign. It's become just another political stunt, aimed more at shoring up the Senator's political fortunes than the nation's economy. And it does nothing to help advance this critical legislation to protect the American people during this time of economic crisis."

A pretty obvious conclusion to make, right? Now if only the press would report on it.

[...]

http://mydd.com/story/2008/9/25/21259/2027

WaMu FAILS

Lovely.

"Washington Mutual, the giant lender that came to symbolize the excesses of the mortgage boom, was seized by federal regulators on Thursday night in the largest bank failure in American history.

Regulators simultaneously brokered an emergency sale of virtually all of Washington Mutual to JPMorgan Chase. The remainder of WaMu, the nation’s largest savings and loan, will be operated by the government. Shareholders and some bondholders will be wiped out. WaMu deposits are guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to the $100,000 limit for each account. WaMu customers are unlikely to be affected."

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/business/26wamu.html

Yay, the nation's largest S&L has been nationalized, along with the nation's largest insurance company, and Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

The Republicans are well on their way to their goal of a socialist utopia. Who would've thunk it?

Uh, too big to fail?

"The shotgun acquisition is the second time since the housing crisis began that the government has pushed a troubled bank into the arms of JPMorgan Chase. In March, JPMorgan Chase rescued Bear Stearns as it teetered into bankruptcy."

Great. Yet another financial institution too big to fail, and the Feds are egging it on.

Go Obama!

The next President of the United States of America!

God Bless America!

And God Bless the World!

“Obama is endorsed by the largest number of Nobel Laureates ever.”

That would be a good thing for the voters of just about any developed nation in the world, except… the United States of America. Here, for whatever reason, science has a bad name.

McCain simply proves that he knows when to fold! At least we gotta give him that!

CBS releases most damaging Sarah Palin clip yet

http://www.americablog.com/2008/09/cbs-releases-most-damaging-sarah-palin.html

Pause for some humor - Part 3 of the CBS Palin interview

http://wonkette.com/403042/couricpalin-sexterview-part-iii-omg-you-are-so-awful-we-want-to-die

The dumb. It burns. Oh, make it stop!

Seriously, I think I lose 5 IQ points every time I hear her speak.

Pres. Bush going to endorse Obama for Pres.?!

The setup has been done. The Repugs have succeeded in flipping the table on Bush and attaching him to the Dems with this deal.

All that is left now is a Bush endorsement for Obama because he seems to get the urgency of this economic mess--more than McCain.

Read the latest reports:

*Obama was busy trying to get a workable deal going, while McCain sat quietly in the WH meeting.

*It is also public that Bush will sign any deal that comes his way.

*There is also speculation that McCain will vote "NO" and then continue his McLiar Express as the man against Wall St. and for Main St.

Where does that leave the American people? Hell Confused. Which is better than HELL AGAINST McCAIN as it stands right now.

Here's praying that our electorate has gained a few IQ points since past two elections.

PS. If you think I have lost it: just ask yourself what your reaction would be if someone suggested a month ago that McCain would "suspend" his campaign. Or pick a dumbass VP named Sarah Palin. Exactly.

Keating 5 ring a bell?

McCain's past collides with the present Wall Street debacle.

Rosa Brooks
September 25, 2008

LA Times

"Once upon a time, a politician took campaign contributions and favors from a friendly constituent who happened to run a savings and loan association. The contributions were generous: They came to about $200,000 in today's dollars, and on top of that there were several free vacations for the politician and his family, along with private jet trips and other perks. The politician voted repeatedly against congressional efforts to tighten regulation of S&Ls, and in 1987, when he learned that his constituent's S&L was the target of a federal investigation, he met with regulators in an effort to get them to back off.

That politician was John McCain, and his generous friend was Charles Keating, head of Lincoln Savings & Loan. While he was courting McCain and other senators and urging them to oppose tougher regulation of S&Ls, Keating was also investing his depositors' federally insured savings in risky ventures. When those lost money, Keating tried to hide the losses from regulators by inducing his customers to switch from insured accounts to uninsured (and worthless) bonds issued by Lincoln's near-bankrupt parent company. In 1989, it went belly up -- and more than 20,000 Lincoln customers saw their savings vanish. ...

But the savings and loan crisis mushroomed. Eventually, the government spent about $125 billion in taxpayer dollars to bail out hundreds of failed S&Ls that, like Keating's, fell victim to a combination of private-sector greed and the "poor judgment" of politicians like McCain.

The $125 billion seems like small change compared to the $700-billion price tag for the Bush administration's proposed Wall Street bailout. But the root causes of both crises are the same: a lethal mix of deregulation and greed."

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-brooks25-2008sep25,0,5467109.column

This is pure brilliance. Enjoy:

McCain/Palin Yardsigns: Collect 'em all!

"As a veteran of the ad industry, I couldn’t sit back and helplessly watch the McCain Palin ticket continue to tank in the polls. If only their message could be a bit more 'unexpected'. So before things get too dire, I decided to sharpen a pencil, fire up Photoshop and got to work on lendin’ the GOP an experienced hand.

Republicans have always benefited from superior brand marketing (who can forget mascots like Willie Horton and the Swift boat veterans), so why should the 2008 campaign be any different? I’m convinced that with spot-on messaging and just the right amount of creative sizzle, the American public will know exactly who they should cast their vote for on November 4th.

For media, I've chosen OOH—that's Out Of Home to us marketing types. It's also commonly known as yard signs.

Let’s start with the current campaign slogan: "Country First." [...]

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/25/16545/2914/720/608457

Washington Post: $25,000 in gifts to Palin in 20 months as Gov.

Per Friday's WaPo:

"Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who has made a crackdown on gift-giving to state officials a centerpiece of her ethics reform agenda, has accepted gifts valued at $25,367 from industry executives, municipalities and a cultural center whose board includes officials from some of the largest mining interests in the state, a review of state records shows.

The 41 gifts Palin accepted during her 20 months as governor include honorific tributes, expensive artwork and free travel for a family member. They also include more than $2,500 in personal items from Calista, a large Alaska native corporation with a variety of pending state regulatory and budgetary issues, and a gold-nugget pin valued at $1,200 from the city of Nome, which lobbies on municipal, local and capital budget matters, documents show."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/25/AR2008092503988.html?hpid=topnews

Hmmmm...could this be why she postponed her financial records release until a day after her debate with Joe Biden, who released 10 years worth?

Anchorage Daily News:

"The Republican vice-presidential candidate received a four-day extension today from the Federal Election Commission.

The federal financial disclosure report was initially due Monday. Now Palin has until Oct. 3, the day after her debate in St. Louis with Biden, the Democratic vice presidential nominee."

http://www.adn.com/palin/story/536988.html

This new information puts many of the activities of the last several days in a new light. The media seemed to think that much of the drama behind McCain's behavior was driven by Palin's multiple failures in her latest interview with Katie Couric as well as some answers she gave to reporters in New York. Now, the knowledge that WaPo would be releasing this story PLUS her failures could easily provide enough motivation to sabotage a financial negotiation in Washington to delay a debate with Obama on Friday so that it could then be rescheduled for next week...the night she was supposed to debate Biden.

I can't imagine how McCain can keep her on the Campaign any longer.

CNN is reporting that McCain will leave shortly for Mississippi.

MSNBC is reporting the same. McCain WILL attend tonights debate.

“Tomorrow’s” news from down under!

Bush's alarm: this 'sucker' could fail

THE prospect of reaching swift agreement on the Bush Administration's $US700 billion ($841 billion) fund to stabilise the world's financial markets deteriorated sharply, even as there were new signs of stress within America's financial system with the collapse of Washington Mutual, the biggest bank to fold in US history.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/bushs-alarm-this-sucker-could-fail/2008/09/26/1222217517666.html

John McCain has already won tonight's debate.

Chris Cillizza over at the Fix reports:

"McCain Wins Debate

Although the fate of tonight's presidential debate in Mississippi remains very much up in the air, John McCain has apparently already won it -- if you believe an Internet ad an astute reader spotted next to this piece in the online edition of the Wall Street Journal this morning.

"McCain Wins Debate!" declares the ad which features a headshot of a smiling McCain with an American flag background. Another ad spotted by our eagle-eyed observer featured a quote from McCain campaign manager Rick Davis declaring: "McCain won the debate-- hands down."

Here's the screenshot.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/images/26Sep_Friday_WSJ.JPG

...

Markos at Daily Kos writes:

"Barack Obama might as well go back to his suspiciously unsuspended campaign, because John McCain has already won tonight's debate."

"And now we know how McCain intends to deal with the nation's economic crisis -- they've invented time travel.

Having come up with technology so advanced McCain can win the debate before he even announced whether he'd show up for the debate, the Republican team is ready to go on to their brilliant plan to save the nation from its current fiscal crisis. The McCain campaign isn't putting out all the details, but it involves sending Sarah Palin back in time with a moose rifle. If McCain economic adviser Phil Gramm suddenly vanishes into a puff of smoke, you know she's been successful."

Dear Gotham and others,

McCain is trying to demonstrate the order of his priorities. He is trying to show his deep concern for this National Emergency.

I thought that it was a great compliment to McCain when Congressmen Barney Frank and Harry Reid said that if McCain was intending to help, then that was no way to help.

Barney Frank was the chief opponent to regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2003, when possibly something could have been done to prevent the implosion of both. Harry Reid has also been a most vocal opponent of any positive action against big corporations.

Best Wishes,

"Betsy" S.

Dear Gotham and others,

I believe that Senator McCain suspended his campaign activities and went to attend to Washington to attend to a National Crisis in order to display the order of his priorities. His priorities are actions for the highest good of his country.

The comments from Congressman Barney Frank, Head of the House Financial Services and Congressman Harry Reid, U.S. Senate Majority Leader since 2005 were of special note. They said that if what McCain is doing is called help, then they would rather not have any help.

Congressman Barney Frank refused to consider as reasonable any regulatory measures for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as long ago as 2003. Congressman Harry Reid has fought against any regulations upon government agencies as well. At this point in time they are both supporting immediate, indiscriminate "quick-fix" monetary bail-outs by the American Taxpayer - so that the Wall Streeters and Big Bankers will not suffer any consequences from their greedy actions.

Over 190 top economists of the nation have spoken out against the proposed measures for the Bail Out on grounds of fairness, ambiguity, and long term effects to the nation.

Federal Reserve Governor Richard Fisher says that the bank rescue plan would worsen the fiscal chasm.

Instead of rushing to a premature allocation of more money there should be an investigation into the potential fraud by mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. and insurer American International Group. It is reported that the FBI is currently looking into this, however, why shouldn't our government be doing so as well instead of throwing more of the Taxpayers' money away?

Why aren't the executives of the failing financial firms stripped of their "golden parachutes" on their way out the door? Why shouldn't they be fined and prosecuted for the mismanagement of investors' capital? They have millions in personal assets. Let them bail us out instead of the average American citizen.

Why aren't our government representatives holding them responsible?

Best Wishes,

"Betsy" S.