The Presidential Debates

[danoyse]

Letterman's thoughts on this "campaign suspension":

Wow. Wasn't McCain supposed to be a guest on the show tonight?

 

[lazur]

Well, if Obama called first... the phone company has the records. So if he really wants to prove that he did... time to call up for a copy of it.

Cause McCain isn't going to admit it and his campaign people definitely won't admit it.

So wait a minute. You're telling me that Obama called first and that that somehow shows nobility, and when John McCain suspends his campaign (which works to Obama's advantage, actually) so he can do his job in the Senate during a time of probable economic collapse, he's pulling a stunt?

I wonder what your reaction would have been if McCain had called first, and Obama suspended his campaign to work in the Senate during this time of crisis.

Nevermind, I already know. Obama is always the hero, and is always right.

 

[Schlosser85]

but damnit the man is a patriot and he loves his country, and I commend him for his honor and for trying to do the noble thing during what will most undoubtedly be the worst economic disaster this country has ever seen.

He's making up excuses to go scurrying back to Washington because he's too chickens**t to actually stand up and face his opponent in an even debate.

 

[Comicfilmer]

So wait a minute. You're telling me that Obama called first and that that somehow shows nobility, and when John McCain suspends his campaign (which works to Obama's advantage, actually) so he can do his job in the Senate during a time of probable economic collapse, he's pulling a stunt?

Obama called to arrange a joint statement about what they wanted to see in the bill - not to suspend campaigns and postpone debates.

 

[danoyse]

So wait a minute. You're telling me that Obama called first and that that somehow shows nobility, and when John McCain suspends his campaign (which works to Obama's advantage, actually) so he can do his job in the Senate during a time of probable economic collapse, he's pulling a stunt?

I wonder what your reaction would have been if McCain had called first, and Obama suspended his campaign to work in the Senate during this time of crisis.

Nevermind, I already know. Obama is always the hero, and is always right.

And you don't think at all that with McCain's numbers slipping, and the media disaster with Palin's trip to the UN, and now with McCain's camp saying they want this debate moved to a date that would mean the VP debate would be postponed...you don't even consider for a second that any of this is a stunt?

I would love for this to be all about Country First. I wish I could believe that this is really what was going on here, but they lost me with this comment:

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/09/mccain-not-comm.html

McCain campaign political director Mike DuHaime told reporters at a lunch meeting in Washington that the senator will not commit until he sees the final package that comes to the Senate floor.

“He’s going to do what he thinks is right,” DuHaime said at a lunch sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor. “He’ll make a vote as a leader in this country, and people will look to him.”

DuHaime added, “Quite frankly, I think you could ask Sen. Obama if he’s going to do what he thinks is right. I mean, he has never -- I believe -- never once made a decision that is an unpopular decision or went against the orthodoxy of his party, and was one that was one that was a tough decision to make. . . . Sen. McCain has done that throughout his entire career, his entire life -- not just in politics, but his life.”

So if we're to believe that he didn't take Obama's call because he was busy meeting with financial consultants all day, just to get ready to make an announcement that bi-partisan politics needs to be put aside--even having the nerve to invoke 9/11 as an example--his aides are still taking swipes at Obama?

That doesn't sound very bi-partisan to me.

And yes, I would be disappointed if Obama had been the one who asked to postpone the debate. I'm also pretty sure the anti-Obama pundits would have been crying foul from everywhere they could that it meant that he's not ready.

 

[Überlibran]

Wow. Wasn't McCain supposed to be a guest on the show tonight?

Yeah, it looks like McCain called Letterman to cancel, citing he had to rush back to D.C. to focus on the economy. While taping his show, though, he finds out that McCain is being interviewed by Katie Couric, and Letterman busts him big-time!

David Letterman tells audience that McCain called him today to tell him he had to rush back to DC to deal with the economy.

Then in the middle of the taping Dave got word that McCain was, in fact just down the street being interviewed by Katie Couric. Dave even cut over to the live video of the interview, and said, "Hey Senator, can I give you a ride home?"

Earlier in the show, Dave kept saying, "You don't suspend your campaign. This doesn't smell right. This isn't the way a tested hero behaves." And he joked: "I think someone's putting something in his Metamucil."

"He can't run the campaign because the economy is cratering? Fine, put in your second-string quarterback, Sarah Palin. Where is she?"

"What are you going to do if you're elected and things get tough? Suspend being president? We've got a guy like that now!"

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

 

[Gilpesh]

So wait a minute. You're telling me that Obama called first and that that somehow shows nobility, and when John McCain suspends his campaign (which works to Obama's advantage, actually) so he can do his job in the Senate during a time of probable economic collapse, he's pulling a stunt?

I wonder what your reaction would have been if McCain had called first, and Obama suspended his campaign to work in the Senate during this time of crisis.

Nevermind, I already know. Obama is always the hero, and is always right.

Could you stop quoting me to go off on rants that have nothing to do with what I posted?

And I'm not telling you anything in that post. If anything I am questioning the claim that he did call first... and wondering where the record is to prove it.

Also it doesn't help that I was right that McCain wouldn't admit it, because they already sent out the release that said Obama didn't talk to anyone.

 

[StrainedEyes]

Obama called to arrange a joint statement about what they wanted to see in the bill - not to suspend campaigns and postpone debates.

 

[danoyse]

Reaction from Mississippi:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/24/greene-come-and-talk-to-us/

Greene: Mississippi reaction
Posted: 06:30 PM ET

From CNN Contributor Bob Greene

BATESVILLE, Mississippi (CNN)– As word of John McCain’s proposal to postpone Friday’s debate reaches Mississippi, there is an initial sense of confusion and disappointment among the people here who have been planning this weekend for months.

“I feel like sending a text message to Barack Obama,” said Ruth Schiele-Moore, the manager of a 50-unit hotel in Batesville, half an hour from Oxford, where the debate will be held.

Her hotel is booked solid for the weekend, as are most hotels and motels in the area. She said she would like to send Obama a text message that reads:

“Come on down here. You just may win Mississippi.”

She said she wants Obama to show up at the debate even if McCain does not appear.

“I don’t understand why McCain feels he can talk to the American people about the economy better from somewhere else than he can from here,” she said. “He should come down here and stand next to Obama, and both of them should tell the public their views about how they would fix the economy.”

She said she is aware that Friday’s debate is supposed to be about foreign policy.

“They can change it,“ she said. “The people want to hear about the economy. Come to Mississippi this weekend and talk to us about it.”

 

[ShadowBoxing]

The polls are meaningless. The real poll will be held when all Americans cast their ballots, and like I said before, I don't believe Obama will win no matter what he does anyway.

Smugness is a very unattractive quality.

 

[Matt]

Am I the only one who sees McCain's side of this? I mean, these people are still being paid to do a job that...y'know, they're not doing. Maybe they should...I dunno? Resign from Senate and let someone who can do the job without the distractions of running a nationwide campaign do it.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Reaction from Mississippi:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/24/greene-come-and-talk-to-us/

If I were a Mississippi resident I'd be downright insulted right now.

 

[Gilpesh]

Am I the only one who sees McCain's side of this?

I can somewhat see it. But then again I can see why some are criticizing him for it.

I mean, these people are still being paid to do a job that...y'know, they're not doing. Maybe they should...I dunno? Resign from Senate and let someone who can do the job without the distractions of running a nationwide campaign do it.

Well, here is one of the questions I can see why people would ask: Why can't they do both at the same time? Do problems happen one at a time when president?

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Am I the only one who sees McCain's side of this? I mean, these people are still being paid to do a job that...y'know, they're not doing. Maybe they should...I dunno? Resign from Senate and let someone who can do the job without the distractions of running a nationwide campaign do it.

They were also selected by their own party and the people of the United States of America to represent us in this election. That is a job, and it's a damn important one. One of these men will lead us, potentially for the next eight years and most assuredly for the next four. His job right now is to present, in plain english, his plain for the next four years and he is reniging on that promise. Only 10% of people think what he's doing right now is a good idea. Quite frankly, I agree with the other 90%. This is downright insulting to those who support him to not campaign as hard as he can right now. FDR campaigned through the Great Depression, Nixon through the Vietnam War, Lincoln while the country was growing ever close to the Civil War. You can't argue those men couldn't handle both their responsibilities to their campaigns and their offices back home.

I know McCain, you don't want to campaign, or debate, let your Alaskian Governor Hockey Mom do it for you. Oh wait, that's right, she can't talk to reporters, debate people, engage foreign leaders unless you're there to hold her hand. My bad.

 

[danoyse]

Am I the only one who sees McCain's side of this? I mean, these people are still being paid to do a job that...y'know, they're not doing. Maybe they should...I dunno? Resign from Senate and let someone who can do the job without the distractions of running a nationwide campaign do it.

I would see it a lot clearer if he hadn't been slipping in the polls, gone through a media disaster with Palin, and basically been running around in circles over the economy all week. I would love for this to just be a move by the McCain I used to respect. But from here, it just looks desperate.

 

[luke1234]

I would see it a lot clearer if he hadn't been slipping in the polls, gone through a media disaster with Palin, and basically been running around in circles over the economy all week. I would love for this to just be a move by the McCain I used to respect. But from here, it just looks desperate.

I have to agree with this, If McCain really wanted to show bi-partisanship, he would of called Obama first before suspending his campaign, it takes a couple of hours to fly to that debate, the american people need to see where this country's future is heading. Obama is right in that quote saying a president needs to know how to do more then one thing at once.

 

[danoyse]

Also, McCain is suggesting that this debate be rescheduled to 10/2, which would mean postponing the Biden/Palin debate. Of all the days to postpone the debate to, why that night? To give Palin more time???

It just seems odd that they would suggest that date, which would mean postponing that debate.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Well, here is one of the questions I can see why people would ask: Why can't they do both at the same time? Do problems happen one at a time when president?

I would say the same. What's he going to do when Iran is threatening us and Russia is invading a former Soviet satellite: suspend his Presidency.

 

[danoyse]

Interesting point, from the comments section in the Washington Post:

As a non-American looking in, it would appear that there is an electoral gain of one-upmanship going on. Obama wanted to look presidential with a joint statement and McCain said yes and ran as fast as he could for a camera to "suspend" his campaign. Throughout American history elections have always carried on despite any crisis that may have been playing out -- witness the Civil War, World War One, the Great Depression, World War Two, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War II.

The details of this bailout will be worked out by financial experts with congressional and White House approval. For the time being, they don't need McCain or Obama. What the USA does need is to approach this problem calmly, get rid of the hyperbole, and proceed with the election, and its important aspects such as the debates, as per usual.

 

[Addendum]

Am I the only one who sees McCain's side of this? I mean, these people are still being paid to do a job that...y'know, they're not doing. Maybe they should...I dunno? Resign from Senate and let someone who can do the job without the distractions of running a nationwide campaign do it.

Broken record much?

 

[Comicfilmer]

Am I the only one who sees McCain's side of this? I mean, these people are still being paid to do a job that...y'know, they're not doing. Maybe they should...I dunno? Resign from Senate and let someone who can do the job without the distractions of running a nationwide campaign do it.

It's not that I can't see it - it's that he is unnecessarily disrupting the Presidential election to do a job he hasn't put in a days work with since April at a point when he's suddenly taking a dive in the polls and getting flack over the bubble he's keeping his running mate in. If he wants to try to get involved with the bill, then more power to him - but to postpone a debate that wouldn't interfere with it in the least bit is playing games.

 

[Handsome Rob]

The debates should go ahead. And no, I'm not just saying that because I'm from Mississippi and want to see my home state in the spotlight.

McCain needs to see the debates through!

 

[lazur]

Yeah, it looks like McCain called Letterman to cancel, citing he had to rush back to D.C. to focus on the economy. While taping his show, though, he finds out that McCain is being interviewed by Katie Couric, and Letterman busts him big-time!
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0908/Letterman_mocks_McCain_cancellation.html?showall

Letterman is the host of an Entertainment show. Couric is hard news, apparently. Seems to me that if he had the opportunity to attend both interviews, which is probably the case, but had to choose which one due to other responsibilities, he probably went with the right one, don't you think? Should McCain be cracking jokes on Letterman during a financial crisis, or should he be talking to the hard news anchors?

Hmm. Tough question.

 

[souvlaki]

Letterman is the host of an Entertainment show. Couric is hard news, apparently. Seems to me that if he had to attend both interviews, which is probably the case, but had to choose which one, he probably went with the right one, don't you think? Should McCain be cracking jokes on Letterman during a financial crisis, or should he be talking to the hard news anchors?

Hmm. Tough question.

Typically if you cancel on someone you don't lie about it in such a way that said host can expose said lie, and humiliate you on national television. How can you possibly justify this? It was a dumb move on McCain's part, and he's going to look like an idiot after Letterman is through with him this evening.

 

[Equinox]

Letterman is the host of an Entertainment show. Couric is hard news, apparently. Seems to me that if he had to attend both interviews, which is probably the case, but had to choose which one, he probably went with the right one, don't you think? Should McCain be cracking jokes on Letterman during a financial crisis, or should he be talking to the hard news anchors?

Hmm. Tough question.

Yeah but I think the reason he gave Letterman was that he was heading back to Washington. Only later did Letterman find out that he was staying back in NYC to do an interview with Couric....

So in my dictionary, I think its called lying...