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mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
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 Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:41 am Post subject: McCain suspends campaign to focus on economy |
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What is he up to?
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MCCAIN SUSPENDS CAMPAIGN TO FOCUS ON ECONOMY; WANTS DEBATE DELAY
MCCAIN: America this week faces an historic crisis in our financial system. We must pass legislation to address this crisis. If we do not, credit will dry up, with devastating consequences for our economy. People will no longer be able to buy homes and their life savings will be at stake. Businesses will not have enough money to pay their employees. If we do not act, ever corner of our country will be impacted. We cannot allow this to happen.
Last Friday, I laid out my proposal and I have since discussed my priorities and concerns with the bill the Administration has put forward. Senator Obama has expressed his priorities and concerns.This morning, I met with a group of economic advisers to talk about the proposal on the table and the steps that we should take going forward.I have also spoken with members of Congress to hear their perspective.
It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the Administration' proposal. I do not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands, and we are running out of time.
Tomorrow morning, I will suspend my campaign and return to Washington after speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative. I have spoken to Senator Obama and informed him of my decision and have asked him to join me.
I am calling on the President to convene a meeting with the leadership from both houses of Congress, including Senator Obama and myself. It is time for both parties to come together to solve this problem.
We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved.I am directing my campaign to work with the Obama campaign and the commission on presidential debates to delay Friday night's debate until we have taken action to address this crisis.
I am confident that before the markets open on Monday we can achieve consensus on legislation that will stabilize our financial markets, protect taxpayers and homeowners, and earn the confidence of the American people. All we must do to achieve this is temporarily set politics aside, and I am committed to doing so.
Following September 11th, our national leaders came together at a time of crisis. We must show that kind of patriotism now. Americans across our country lament the fact that partisan divisions in Washington have prevented us from addressing our national challenges. Now is our chance to come together to prove that Washington is once again capable of leading this country. |
http://www.drudgereport.com/flash1.htm |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:53 am Post subject: |
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Hard to say. I'm tempted to write it off as just a publicity stunt. The nifty subtext being "If Obama wants to show us how patriotic he is, he'll agree to my plan to postpone the debate". |
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mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
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| Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:57 am Post subject: |
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Right.
"I'm putting politics aside to fix the economy". This, when he is tanking in the polls. Obama of course won't want to do this, and when he doesn't the talking heads will tell their minions that this is Obama politicizing the economic troubles.
McCain has said he doesn't know jackshit about the economy. Exactly how is he going to "work" on it?
This is cynicism in the extreme. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:03 pm Post subject: |
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A brief scan of the internet would seem to indicate that McCain is being roasted alive on American message boards.
http://tinyurl.com/4ov2by
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Ow, ow, time out! No fair! Mom, Obama pushed me!
Where was McCain the last 26 years? Where was he since April 9, the last time he saw fit to vote in the Senate?
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What nonsense! What's McSimple going to do when he's president?? Tell problem #1 that it's just been pre-empted by crisis #2 and then emergency #3. What a ridiculous, politically motivated response! Obviously he doesn't want to have to face the public and answer questions on the economy. Have the debate and let the voters decide who's more capable of dealing with the multiple complex problems that face America right now.
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This makes us look like a third world "democracy" where junta leaders refuse to appear.
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McCain - What.A.Joke!
Lets just postpone the election too... maybe in a year America will forget that you're nothing but a lying scumbag.
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Czarjorge
Joined: 01 May 2007
Location: I now have the same moustache, and it is glorious.
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| Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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| I hope Obama plays this well. If I was him I would come out hard and argue that the best way to fix the economy is to change the people steering it. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Czarjorge wrote: |
| I hope Obama plays this well. If I was him I would come out hard and argue that the best way to fix the economy is to change the people steering it. |
He definitely does need to read the public mood before diving in with the rhetoric either way. If, and I say if, the masses start to rally around McCain's idea, Obama could be damaged if he takes too hard a swipe at it.
And like I say: IF.
But here's something I don't quite get...
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McCain advisers said they are also reaching out to the Obama campaign to discuss pulling political television advertisements from airing, as well.
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Why would they have to cancel ads? Okay, so McCain thinks both candidates need to be in D.C. hammering out an economic package. But that doesn't mean John Q. Public can't still sit at home and watch ads on TV.
http://tinyurl.com/4lte5x |
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Czarjorge
Joined: 01 May 2007
Location: I now have the same moustache, and it is glorious.
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| Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Yes, I'm switching between CNN and MSNBC and McCain's camp has said that they'll pull ads as well. That should be a clear indication that this is a political act on McCain's part. He's doing badly and might be helped by a 'breather' that would take him out of the average person's mind while the economy melts down. I'm sure it's also a consideration by the McCain camp that he has WAY less money than Obama in his war chest and saving money on ads now means he can spend it all in the two weeks before the general. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:56 pm Post subject: |
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On the message boards(admittedly overpopulated by cybergeeks), the word "multitasking" is coming up frequently. Maybe that's how Obama can play this, since it seems to have some grassroots resonance.
"Look, I can debate foreign policy for one hour and keep my mind on the negotiations in Washington at the same time. Does that sound like the kind of leader you want?"
Last edited by On the other hand on Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:59 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Gopher
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
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| Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:58 pm Post subject: |
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| mises wrote: |
| What is he up to? |
If you trust J. McCain, you see this one way. If you do not, you will see it another way. And in an election year, the various spins on this will not be so hard to predict, Mises.
On the Other Hand: the ads, which have gotten progressively nasty, will only exacerbate partisan divisiveness at a time when J. McCain and others want to draw all parties together when approaching the American economy. This is not without precedent: LBJ withdrew from the race partly to dedicate all his time to Southeast Asia in 1968. Some people, at some times, do indeed attempt to put the national interest over their careers and ambition. J. McCain is one of them.
I think you lean very far into a Marxist-like worldview, however. I do not expect you to see this as anything other than a cynical ploy, however. For whatever it is worth, then, I offer my view on this. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:06 pm Post subject: |
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| On the Other Hand: the ads, which have gotten progressively nasty, will only exacerbate partisan divisiveness at a time when J. McCain and others want to draw all parties together when approaching the American economy. |
But if McCain and Obama are in the same room together hammering out a deal on the economy, who cares how nasty the TV ads are? The viewing public aren't in Washington negotiating the deal. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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It isn't a bad idea. He must have been watching Countdown (Keith O.) when Howard Fineman said both candidates should be in Washington leading their parties in the discussions/debates on this bailout bill. Since one of the two is going to be left holding Bush's bag in 4 months, I think it makes sense.
The way he is doing it is purely political, it seems to me. He gets to claim leadership for thinking of it and forcing Obama to follow along. He'll also get free publicity by speaking for his party in Washington--against the administration (another plus) and reduce the time Barney Frank gets to be on TV. McCain has played this particular hand very well, unlike the last 10 days where he was fumbling everything. He may have found another game changer. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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| I think you lean very far into a Marxist-like worldview, however. I do not expect you to see this as anything other than a cynical ploy, however. For whatever it is worth, then, I offer my view on this. |
Actually, my worldview is more Christian, in the darker sense of the word. I regard man as eternally fallen, and assume a hefty modicum of self-interest at play in any political situation.
Thanks for the info on LBJ. But, a difference would be that he WAS the president at the time, and likely had obligations that only he could perform. And he didn't ask the other Democratic primary candidates to drop out, did he? |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:16 pm Post subject: |
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| The way he is doing it is purely political, it seems to me. |
Yeah, whatever the actual merits of the idea, it does seem a little shady that he suddenly announced his intentions two days before the debate is scheduled to go ahead. Those financial firms in New York started collapsing a couple of weeks back, and NOW McCain suddenly has the epiphany that he needs to be in Washington?
Furthermore, why hasn't he cancelled his speech at the Clinton Center, if focussing on the economy is such an overarching priority for him right now? |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:23 pm Post subject: |
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| There is more to the story of LBJ than just dedication to country. He was deeply humiliated that he won the New Hampshire primary by only a few % points over an unknown senator from Minnesota. To have gone on with the race would mean he would have had to fight for his own party's nomination. An embarrassment. He chose to exit the political stage with dignity. Whether it was altruism or political calculation, who can say? I'll leave the mind-reading to Gopher. |
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TexasPete
Joined: 24 May 2006
Location: Koreatown
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| Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:39 pm Post subject: |
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Given how erratic McCain's been on this financial crisis, I'm not sure I want him to have any part of the bailout. Also, suspending your campaign on a Wednesday to hash out the details on something when Congress recesses on Friday isn't really that big of a sacrifice.
I think the McCain campaign saw this as a chance to make him appear to be the leader they say he is. It doesn't matter if he actually does anything in regards to the bailout so long as it appears he's doing something. |
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