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[sr71plt]

John is not prepared for the debate. John's numbers are down. John is trying to avoid being made a fool of on national television.

I honestly believe this is a large part of the reason for that gambit about the debates. It's the only thing that fits. Why else risk looking like you can't do two things at once? He is trying to address his credibility on crisis issues by showing that he will drop what he is doing and come running when someone yells "fire!"

But we're not auditioning volunteer firemen here.

Well, there's another reason. The reasoning is that a presidential debate has to happen before a vice presidential debate (Why? Don't ask me--that's just the reasoning being given.) No presidential debate, no vice presidential debate. Another pesky problem negated.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Well, there's another reason. The reasoning is that a presidential debate has to happen before a vice presidential debate (Why? Don't ask me--that's just the reasoning being given.) No presidential debate, no vice presidential debate. Another pesky problem negated.

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn!

Sneaky little f-ers aren't they?

 

[sr71plt]

Maybe he can send Sarah Palin to replace him at the debate. Veeps often do that sort of thing, replace the pres. at ceremonial ocasions, and this would be a chance to make her look vice-presidential. It will also put Obama in a no-win situation.

Oh, yeah, the Republicans would really do that. Yeah, right. They won't even let her do a press conference.

What rock have you been under?

 

[Boxlicker101]

Oh, yeah, the Republicans would really do that. Yeah, right. They won't even let her do a press conference.

What rock have you been under?

She is going to be debating Biden soon, so she should have had some preparation for that. Besides that, even if she loses the debate, she will get a lot of exposure and Obama won't look all that good. If USC beats up on Podunk State Teachers' college in a football, it doesn't bring any glory to them, and this would be the same principle.

 

[sr71plt]

She is going to be debating Biden soon, so she should have had some preparation for that. Besides that, even if she loses the debate, she will get a lot of exposure and Obama won't look all that good. If USC beats up on Podunk State Teachers' college in a football, it doesn't bring any glory to them, and this would be the same principle.

Got me convinced. I'm s-o-o-o-o looking forward that debate.

 

[Safe_Bet]

Got me convinced. I'm s-o-o-o-o looking forward that debate.

*Snerk*

 

[Boxlicker101]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Boxlicker101
She is going to be debating Biden soon, so she should have had some preparation for that. Besides that, even if she loses the debate, she will get a lot of exposure and Obama won't look all that good. If USC beats up on Podunk State Teachers' college in a football, it doesn't bring any glory to them, and this would be the same principle.

Got me convinced. I'm s-o-o-o-o looking forward that debate.

You know, don't you, that "winning" a political debate means very little, if anything. Some debate judges might proclaim one person to be the winner, based on rules of debate, but that result will actually be almost unknown. The person who benefits the more is the person who makes the best impression on the voter/watchers.

I'm well aware of the intelligence and the rhetorical skills of Obama, and that will help, but coming across well is more important.

 

[sr71plt]

You know, don't you, that "winning" a political debate means very little, if anything. Some debate judges might proclaim one person to be the winner, based on rules of debate, but that result will actually be almost unknown. The person who benefits the more is the person who makes the best impression on the voter/watchers.

Oh, I certainly agree with that. I think the electorate should see Sarah Pailen as much as possible.

 

[Safe_Bet]

Oh, I certainly agree with that. I think the electorate should see Sarah Pailen as much as possible.

*Snerk II*

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

SR71PLT

You hauled Bob Hope around, huh?

 

[sr71plt]

SR71PLT

You hauled Bob Hope around, huh?

Nope. Google again. This time with at least one eye open.

 

[cloudy]

Craig Ferguson's take on what McCain's done.

 

[Safe_Bet]

Craig Ferguson's take on what McCain's done.

*Snerk* But he's right!

 

[Belegon]

Looking for an opinion on McCain's effect on the process that comes from a non-partisan source. Although the great majority f things I've read call his actions, at best, not helpful... well, I am aware that the majority of my usual sources lean democrat.

Not sure if there will be one anyway. I mean, everyone who was IN the meetings has a reason to spin it a particular way.

For the last week, my overall impression of John McCain is of a deer caught in headlights.

 

[sr71plt]

For the last week, my overall impression of John McCain is of a deer caught in headlights.

That certainly must be the case of having been caught in an interview with Katie Couric in New York, just across from David Letterman's studio, when he was supposed to be on David Letterman's show at that time and had begged off saying he already was on his way back to Washington.

And he stuttered through a short interview with NBC tonight, having nothing to say when he was asked why, if he had suspended his campaign, were his surrogates still out campaigning and why he didn't intend to show up to Friday's debate since everyone in Congress said they didn't need his help there.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

The word is, Obama better reveal who he is or the election is a landslide for McCain. Voters still have no idea what Obama's plans for the economy are. The wise-men are predicting voters will go with the devil they know.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

More likely McCain's people are hoping to cancel this Friday's debate and reschedule, which will only leave time for 3 more debates instead of 4. That means they'll have to cancel the VP debate altogether. I could see them trying to pull something like that. After all these weeks of cramming, Palin's latest interview with Katie Couric is still an embarrassment. She's still sticking to the argument that she has international experience because Putin flies over Alaska.

The most cyncical, dirty trick view of this "suspension" of his campaign is that McCain somehow got the republican right to back out of the deal for him, allowing him to go to DC and look presidential by "convincing" them to vote for it at the 11th hour, oh, say, at about 8:30 PM Eastern time while Obama's facing an empty stage at Ole Miss. Thus McCain trumps Obama, showing up on the news with the completed deal in his fist like Moses coming down from Mt Sinai, while Obama stands there like a doofus.

Of course, no one would play politics with our nation's future and well-being like that, would they? No party would be so fucking cynical and manipulative to do something like that. That's like starting a war where Americans are killed just so it can rally the country behind it and consolidate its hold on political power. Parties don't do cynical shit like that, right?

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Doesnt matter. Know one knows what Obama intends to do about the economy....except maybe re-fill credit-cards.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Doesnt matter. Know one knows what Obama intends to do about the economy....except maybe re-fill credit-cards.

And not get elected by playing Lone Ranger.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

DOC

Its true. Everyone on the planet knows McCain is Mister Bumpernutz, and no one has a fucking clue what Obama will do besides let the homeys refill their Visa-cards to buy 16 inch chrome wheels.

 

[Pure]

i love the theater!

bush has a problem with lowly repug congressmen... who oddly enough would like to be re-elected.

i saw a repug commentator who said there was no problem for bush to get the Dems to spend 700 billion; they LOVE spending!

ironic, eh? Bush, like Reagan, is a big spender; at this time of crisis he gets a MORE sympathetic ear from Dems! then the Dems will be accused of raising taxes and throwing money at the problem!! [this is how Obama will be labeled by McCain, if O gets too supportive of the 'bailout' legislation.]

clearly the Dems should say, 'we'll give you 30% of what you ask, since we're frugal. make your case, beg, if you want more, and let the american people know you're calling for a tax raise. when you and your repug friends get honest about this, we will vote, with reservations, to support a version of your proposal.'
===

Galbraith's proposals for the crisis are very simple and intriguing. I think O should endorse them! RAISE the FDIC acct insured limit. In general, do NOT buy the 'bad paper' of corporations who are in trouble, but not actually bankrupt. let the institutions officially 'write down,' serioulsy discount, the bad paper, as they would normally do in an insolvency proceeding, for example, at ten cents on the dollar.
===

http://kenthink7.blogspot.com/2008/09/james-galbraith-on-financial-crisis_25.html

original article
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/24/AR2008092403033.html

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

PURE

Go check the popularity of Congress and Bush. Neither score is anything to boast about. 17% for Congress, 26% for Bush.

Americans correctly assume that both parties are wasted turds.

No! Sell the goddamn houses for fair-market value. Discounting the foreclosures harms the construction and real estate industry. Bank shareholders then eat the difference between the mortgage and the sales price.

 

[Pure]

yes, james,

ironies abound:

congress would like to get the UNpopular pres to take some heat and have responsiblity for the wierd bailout of the rich. they want to say, 'we were told the sky was falling; our arms were twisted. we did what HE said was for the good of the country.'

that's if a package passes, as it must, soon.

the pres and repug national ctte would like the UNpopular Congress to share the heat: for throwing money at a problem, and maybe achieving only dubious results except for execs and big shareholders.

each side wishes to 'trap' the other, and Mc Cain wants to run around burnishing his maverick image, feeding on the boiling mess; as if he truly is saying, 'fuck the white house; it's corrupt.'

 

[neonlyte]

McCain back in the debate following 'settling of bail-out' deal.

Puppet

String

 

[Belegon]

McCain's attempt at playing "white knight" was a colossal failure, in my opinion. I would like to think that the whole country will see it that way, but have very little faith in the ability of the country as a whole to see past the bullshit anymore.

http://willbelegon.blogspot.com/

The McCain campaign, after swooping into Washington a full day later then they said they would, after never suspending any aspect of a campaign they said they would and after making once-friendly David Letterman feel like an "ugly date," now says that they will, after all, attend the debate in Mississippi tonight.

Why? Wasn't the original purpose of John McCain "suspending" his campaign to be able to stay in Washington until this financial crisis was resolved? Does this mean it is resolved then?

Let's review. The "agreement in principle" that a bi-partisan committee had come up with before McCain arrived in Washington is floundering at best. House Republicans are still acting as blocking agents. McCain came into town, said very little and then backed a plan completely different from the one that had gendered support across the aisles, a plan that Secretary Paulson said "would not work." The largest bank failure in the history of the country happened overnight.

Nope. Problem definitely not resolved.

So then why is McCain back aboard the Debate train? Simply, really. Because the polls and the voice of the people yelled at him that he needs to be.

This whole thing was a grandstand ploy to try and make John McCain look heroic and responsible while also allowing him to avoid the extra attention of a debate during a time of plummeting polls and giving him additional prep time. This despite the fact that he has known when the debate was for just as long as Obama and that he once again, during that interview with Katie Couric when he was supposed to be on Letterman, has accused Obama of basically being mean to him by not giving him he "ten Town Hall's."

It's transparent. It's ridiculous. It got him ridiculed extensively for two nights by a man reputed to be one of the sharpest wits in America, who used to be enough of a friend that McCain announced his candidacy for President on his show. It made the people of the U.S. actively engage in conversation along the lines of "What the hell is he thinking?"

And it got him caught in one of the silliest accusations yet, when his team called the White House meeting a "shouting match" and tried to blame it on Obama (without ever saying they were trying to blame it on Obama, of course.) Really now, John. We're supposed to believe the guy that kept his cool through everything he has been faced with this year was the one that got into a shouting match, and the guy with the nasty temper who calls his wife things you can't repeat on television was the calm one. Um, your buddy George would say "That dog won't hunt."

Oh, but hey. At least it distracted everyone from noticing what a fool Sarah Plain looked like when Katie Couric asked about Alaska being next door to Russia again.