"McCain advisers said they are also reaching out to the Obama campaign to discuss pulling political television advertisements.posted by ericb at 12:29 PM on September 24, 2008
Advisers also say that McCain still wants to participate in all three presidential debates, but that the schedule is up in the air."*
Might this have more to do with his campaign's admission that McCain has not done much to prepare for the debates?
Why not change the topic of the debate to the economic crisis?
Obama supporter and chief debate negotiator Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., told MSNBC that "we can handle both," when asked about his reaction to McCain's call to postpone the first debate because of the administration's bailout plan. He believes they are making good progress on Capitol Hill on the bailout and his initial reaction is that the work on the Hill should not preclude the debate from taking place.So where's the fire, McCain? Yeesh. Let the committees do their work and stop trying to get a piece of it. And - well positioned, Obama team.
An Obama campaign official told ABC News the Democratic presidential candidate called McCain this morning to suggest a joint statement of principles.
McCain called back this afternoon and suggested returning to Washington.
Obama is willing to return to Washington "if it would be helpful." But reiterated Obama intends to debate on Friday.
McCain and his top advisers said the Republican presidential candidate has not committed to voting for the massive financial bailout plan proposed by the Bush administration, with aides saying he will reserve final judgment until there is a final product.
Since Obama Seems to Want to Go On with the DebateOMGWTFLOL… er, I mean to say, yes, while it would be a considerable challenge for Barack Obama to engage Sarah Palin in a freewheeling debate entirely about foreign policy two weeks before the planned vice-presidential debate, I believe that progressives should be willing to make that sacrifice for the good of our country in this difficult time.
Many readers relay that they'd like McCain to just offer Palin step in for him.
'Whatever the merits of the whole Edwards love child story, are we really supposed to believe that one of America's most famous trial lawyers wouldn't sue a publication that printed defamatory and slanderous lies about him?posted by ericb at 1:42 PM on September 24, 2008 [1 favorite]
Also, it's worth pointing out that while the Enquirer may or may not be scrupulous in its choice of stories — that's in the eye of the beholder — it is pretty scrupulous about its facts. They win lawsuits. They've broken a host of stories the MSM guys couldn't.'"
"Whatever the merits of the whole Sarah Palin adultery story, are we really supposed to believe that one of America's most famous hockey moms wouldn't sue a publication that printed defamatory and slanderous lies about her?posted by ericb at 1:50 PM on September 24, 2008
Also, it's worth pointing out that while the Enquirer may or may not be scrupulous in its choice of stories — that's in the eye of the beholder — it is pretty scrupulous about its facts. They win lawsuits. They've broken a host of stories the MSM guys couldn't."*
“With Wall Street’s financial institutions in turmoil, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) argued in a series of interviews today that his experience on the Senate Commerce Committee meant he knew ‘how to fix this economy.’ ‘I understand the economy. I was chairman of the Commerce Committee that oversights every part of our economy,’ McCain told CNBC’s Squawk Box [video].posted by ericb at 2:30 PM on September 24, 2008 [5 favorites]
But, as the Washington Post points out, the Commerce Committee doesn’t oversee ‘every part of our economy,’ let alone ‘the very areas now in crisis’:‘In fact, it is the Senate Banking Committee that has oversight of “banks, banking and financial institutions; control of prices of commodities, rents and services; federal monetary policy, including the Federal Reserve System; financial aid to commerce and industry and money and credit, including currency and coinage.”It’s not that surprising that McCain is confused about the Commerce Committee’s economic responsibilities, considering that he freely admits, ‘The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.’”
According to its Web site, the Commerce Committee oversees 13 areas, beginning with the Coast Guard, and continuing through “regulation of consumer products and services … except for credit, financial services, and housing” — the very areas now in crisis.’
"John McCain, whose ads skewer Barack Obama for his 'celebrity' status, has his own close ties to show business, the new issue of Us Weekly reports exclusively.posted by ericb at 3:01 PM on September 24, 2008
The 72-year-old was recently made TV-ready by makeup artist Tifanie White who's worked on So You Think You Can Dance and American Idol.
McCain paid the 2002 beauty-school grad $5,583.43 for her services, according to the Federal Election Commission."
John McCain, still on the fence whether to back the proposed $700 billion bailout of Wall Street, huddled this morning with a panel of business executives, including former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.Because if there's one thing that billionaire executives understand, it's how regular folks like us can regain our confidence in Wall Street and in Washington.
The Associated Press reports that McCain said he wanted to discuss "how we can make sure that the American people regain confidence on Main Street so that they can regain their confidence in Wall Street and in Washington."
"Some moderates may see this maneuver as further evidence of McCain's erratic, impulsive temperament. Others could interpret it as a desperate gimmick, given that McCain's isn't 'suspending' anything other than two days of debate prep. The Democratic congressional leadership won't make it easy for McCain to claim a political victory. (Harry Reid is already saying his presence 'would not be helpful.') And if the final bailout is unpopular with the public--which seems likely--McCain could be blamed. So there are significant risks involved."posted by ericb at 3:40 PM on September 24, 2008
COURIC: You've said, quote, "John McCain will reform the way Wall Street does business." Other than supporting stricter regulations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac two years ago, can you give us any more example of his leading the charge for more oversight?posted by Combustible Edison Lighthouse at 3:56 PM on September 24, 2008 [28 favorites]
PALIN: I think that the example that you just cited, with his warnings two years ago about Fannie and Freddie--that, that's paramount. That's more than a heck of a lot of other senators and representatives did for us.
COURIC: But he's been in Congress for 26 years. He's been chairman of the powerful Commerce Committee. And he has almost always sided with less regulation, not more.
PALIN: He's also known as the maverick though. Taking shots from his own party, and certainly taking shots from the other party. Trying to get people to understand what he's been talking about--the need to reform government.
COURIC: I'm just going to ask you one more time, not to belabor the point. Specific examples in his 26 years of pushing for more regulation?
PALIN: I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you.
"Mr. McCain said that after speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York on Thursday, he would return to Washington to work on the bailout package."Pussy!
“I think it's the longest Hail Mary in the history of football or Marys,” said Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.), who has been the House’s lead negotiator with both the Senate and the administration on the bailout package...Meanwhile, this in CQ Politics about Obama's call to the Republican statesman, keeping in mind that McCain believes it is time to rise above petty squabbling:
“They’re not mutually exclusive,” said Rep. Rahm Emanuel (Ill.), the Democratic Caucus chairman, of the upcoming debate and work on the bailout. “It’s not like canceling the debate will help to resolve this.”
“That’s absurd,” said Rep. Henry Waxman (Calif.), a senior House Democrat. “Does he think because there's a financial crisis we should cancel the election?”
But McCain spokesman Brian Rogers countered that Obama and McCain never spoke in Wednesday morning.So there *Pbbt*
“Sen. Obama phoned Sen. McCain at 8:30 a.m. this morning but did not reach him. The topic of Sen. Obama’s call to Sen. McCain was never discussed. Sen. McCain was meeting with economic advisers and talking to leaders in Congress throughout the day prior to calling Senator Obama,” Rogers said.
Financials are sold off and shorts return, destroying Morgan Stanley. Washington Mutual fails. Washington Mutual has 143 billion in FDIC insured deposits, which is three times the size of the FDIC fund. FDIC breaks. Wachovia fails. Other national and regional banks will fail. The govt will have to pass an emergency FDIC bailout to cover all those deposits. And the fat cats on Wall Street don't have Wachovia savings accounts. Morlochs like us do.That's absurd. My bank's not WaMu, and it has tons of money. No one except you is claiming that ATMs are going to stop working, that's just idiotic.
Depositors, i.e. you and me, cannot get at our money. In other words, your ATM cards and debit cards won't work, because there's no bank account connected to it. How much cash do you have on you right now? Because you're going to live off of that until your next payday, assuming you'll have one (see below).
Do you rely on a debit card? Not anymore. No cash means you're going to go to your credit card. But with cash frozen in the system the price of what money is still free to move will skyrocket. In other words the interest rate (i.e. the price of money) will go through the roof. So the money for groceries your credit card lent you is going to accrue 30% interest.-- pastabagel
President Bush invited John McCain, Barack Obama and congressional leaders to the White House on Thursday to discuss his administration's proposed bailout of the financial industry and press them to back the plan.posted by funkiwan at 5:56 PM on September 24, 2008
The invitation was extended Wednesday evening, and Bush called Obama personally to ask him to the Thursday afternoon meeting, which Obama accepted, his campaign said.
CLINTON: But when this is over, and after the Jewish holidays, which follow close on it, I intend to go to Florida, to Ohio, to Northeast Pennsylvania and to Nevada, at a minimum. I may do events in Arkansas, depending on what the Democratic Party does down there. And I have some fundraising for them in California and New York.The cracker vote! Wow.
KING: Do they ask you, go here, go there?
CLINTON: Yes.
KING: All right. (INAUDIBLE). Why are you -- are you kind of feeling Jewish, that you're waiting until after the Jewish holidays?
CLINTON: No. But I think it would be -- if we're trying to win in Florida, it may be that -- you know, they think that because of who I am and where my politic base has traditionally been, they may want me to go sort of hustle up what Lawton Chiles used to call the cracker vote there.
But Senator Obama also has a big stake in doing well in the Jewish community in Florida, where Hillary did very well, and where I did very well. And I just think respecting the holidays is a good thing to do.
KING: I was just having a little fun.
CLINTON: I know.
KING: We'll be right back with Bill Clinton.
Don't go away.
Perhaps this will shine an unflattering light on my psyche. But, like many of you, I have a busy schedule, with lots of work obligations and meetings. I also end up doing a decent number of panel discussions and speeches, though I try hard to keep those to a minimum. And like everyone, sometimes I get tired or overwhelmed and I wish I could get out of this or that responsibility.I mean this, as a very genuine question, with the desire for an honest answer: based on his actions for the last few weeks, can anyone who supports McCain- not just hates liberals, hates Obama, LURVES Sarah Palin, but actually, legitimately supports John McCain-
Occasionally in these moments, in a perverse kind of private entertainment, I've found myself imagining what would happen if I pawned off on someone just the ballsiest, most inane excuse for flaking on some commitment. And not something that people might buy -- nothing entertaining about that -- but just something completely off the wall and nonsensical. What would people's reaction be? Speechless, laughter, tearing me limb from limb? Would they ever speak to me again?
So, let's see, I can't moderate the panel because I've been called to Washington to give a special briefing on guerilla tactics to be used against the Taliban?
Or maybe, I want to be at the meeting, but as weird as this sounds, all the bridges and tunnels out of Manhattan have been shut for the day. Some counter-terrorism thing probably. I tried renting a helicopter but they're all booked by people at the UN.
Isn't this pretty much what John McCain tried to pull today? But actually really did it? And on a national stage? He wants to cancel the debate? And maybe also Palin's debate. Are you kidding? Why not cancel the election too? And because he has to go back to DC to solve the financial crisis? Really? The topic he knows nothing about and after he's shown up less in the senate in the last two years than anyone but Tim Johnson, the guy who had the stroke? Which of my employees is going to call from home tomorrow and say they can't come to work because of the financial crisis?
One of the advantages of running a presidential campaign is that roughly half the country is deeply committed to believing or at least saying that virtually anything you do or say makes sense. And so it is here. But, look, if you were living in the real world, if you were some hotshot young executive at a Fortune 500 company trying to rise in the ranks, and you pulled some whacked crap like this, it would probably get you blackballed permanently. People would think you were either deeply unreliable or maybe just had a screw loose. And yet here he is -- is he kidding? He can't debate Barack Obama because he's got to go to Washington and save the economy? It's like the biggest 'dog at my homework' in history.
I know that this is a stupid question, but if Johnny Mac is suspending his campaign why are they still running his spots on my local TVBecause, as has been made abundantly clear over the last several weeks, John McCain is a pathological liar.
"The Congressional Budget Office director yesterday told Congress that the proposed bailout may worsen the current financial crisis. 'Ironically, the intervention could even trigger additional failures of large institutions, because some institutions may be carrying troubled assets on their books at inflated values,' Peter Orszag said. 'Establishing clearer prices might reveal those institutions to be insolvent.'" *posted by ericb at 7:06 AM on September 25, 2008 [2 favorites]
"Yesterday, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) defended his economic adviser Carly Fiorina, saying that he was 'proud of her record.'posted by ericb at 7:08 AM on September 25, 2008
...When...[McCain]...convened a high-profile roundtable to discuss the financial crisis with 12 economic advisers in New York yesterday, one absence was notable: Carly Fiorina."
Mr. McCain seems willing to say anything, do anything, to get to the White House so he can go to war with Iran. If he needs to recline naked in Macy's window, he would do that, or eat live chickens, or claim to be a reformer.When you've lost Keillor, you've lost Wobegon.
posted by fourcheesemac at 12:26 PM on September 24, 2008 [3 favorites]