# I call bullshit on John McCain's purely political "suspension" tactic. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 24, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046 "2008-09-24T19:32:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/221 "2008-09-26T11:31:07Z")
\*Honestly, that’s a lot of effort by a small town to make the debate happen, and Senator McCain has chosen to bail on it. Thanks for the hardship! \* No, no, no, **elelle**. That’s not hardship. It’s… LEADERSHIP! :rolleyes: For Republicans, the old saying ‘Desperate times call for desperate measures’ never rang so true. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/222 "2008-09-26T12:17:30Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > My favorite part of that Huffington Post article about how McCain’s campaign is still going on: > > > [@](#): > > > > In Ashland County, Ohio, a McCain worker named Ken confirmed, “We’re still campaigning for him.” He added, “I’m taking off in two hours. A Japanese couple will be watching the shop after, but they’re very anglocized.” > > WTF is _that_ supposed to mean? Japanese couple! I choose _YOU!_ \ I really, really hope that if McPalin doesn’t show up, that Obama does do a town hall meeting not only to give himself a wonderful forum and platform to blast his opponent into oblivion, but also so that the people of Oxford can get at least some of the money they expected to make from this event. Way to go, McPalin–shit on the reddest of red states whydon’tyou… ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/223 "2008-09-26T12:38:05Z")
According to this morning’s Jackson [paper](http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080926/NEWS0401/809260361), everything is going along with the preparations, as planned. I like how they titled their article, “Economy Leaves Debate in Doubt”. Heh. Looks like this has angered people all across the state. Not a good thing, if he was counting on carrying MS. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/224 "2008-09-26T12:45:00Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Japanese couple! I choose _YOU!_ \ This made me laugh so hard! ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/225 "2008-09-26T12:48:02Z")
> [@NinetyWt](#): > > According to this morning’s Jackson [paper](http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080926/NEWS0401/809260361), everything is going along with the preparations, as planned. > > I like how they titled their article, “Economy Leaves Debate in Doubt”. Heh. > > Looks like this has angered people all across the state. Not a good thing, if he was counting on carrying MS. Mississippi has been looking like it might go more Democratic lately anyway. You’d be surprised; a Democrat beat Trent Lott’s pick in a special election recently (and it had a lot to do with people getting out to vote for Obama in the primaries). I’m not saying Obama will carry the state, but I don’t think it will be a landslide like McCain probably expects. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/226 "2008-09-26T12:57:40Z")
A Democrat would never get the free pass on this kind of obvious stunt from the media that McCain is getting. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/227 "2008-09-26T13:42:23Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > Mississippi has been looking like it might go more Democratic lately anyway. You’d be surprised; a Democrat beat Trent Lott’s pick in a special election recently (and it had a lot to do with people getting out to vote for Obama in the primaries). I’m not saying Obama will carry the state, but I don’t think it will be a landslide like McCain probably expects. Oh honey, I’m _never_ surprised at what happens here. 😉 I seriously think that Obama supporters in the state outnumber McCain supporters. A significant portion of Mississippians don’t vote at all. This time, I think a good many of those will vote for Obama. That’s based on what I hear through the grapevine. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/228 "2008-09-26T13:56:32Z")
> [@TVeblen](#): > > The debates will be interesting as hell, no matter what.\* I really, really hope Obama shows up as scheduled. All those people who worked so hard for so long, in good faith, to host the debate deserve a hell of a lot more than being stood up in a faked ‘suspension’ in campaigning. > [/SIZE] Well yeah, but the debate was created by _snort_ community organizers, so who cares what they think? ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/229 "2008-09-26T14:44:37Z")
The GOP media lapdogs are marvelling at how principled and statesman like McCain is. Of course we know what they’re saying when the mikes are off. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/230 "2008-09-26T15:24:17Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > Even putting aside the “suspension,” one has to wonder what the McCain campaign’s up to by buying ad time in Utah and Western New York. Talk about throwing good money after bad. There are actually a lot of Republicans in Western New York (all those rural towns). But considering they all live in the same state as people that live in New York City, yeah it’s a waste. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/231 "2008-09-26T15:29:56Z")
Breaking on Fox: McCain says he’s going to the debate. He has no choice, really. There wouldn’t be any session tonight. He’d look like an idiot if he stayed in DC doing nothing. Plus the Republicans would rather collectively drink poison than let Barack Obama have 90 minutes of free, unrebutted air time. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/232 "2008-09-26T15:30:46Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > The GOP media lapdogs are marvelling at how principled and statesman like McCain is. Of course we know what they’re saying when the mikes are off. “Okay, I read the script, where’s my money?” ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/233 "2008-09-26T15:48:22Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > McCain says he’s going to the debate. He has no choice, really. There wouldn’t be any session tonight. He’d look like an idiot if he stayed in DC doing nothing. Plus the Republicans would rather collectively drink poison than let Barack Obama have 90 minutes of free, unrebutted air time. He’s still going to get reamed. Two days ago he said he’d suspend his campaign until a bailout settlement was reached. Well, there’s no settlement yet, and here he is at the debate. This is leadership? ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/234 "2008-09-26T16:35:46Z")
Oh, no no no no. Here’s the spin: Senator McCain _wanted_ to suspend his campaign, correctly and honorably, and save Wall Street, but those darn Democrats maneuvered him into a corner. First, they insisted on reading and debating McCain’s last-minute surprise replacement bailout package, stalling as long as possible. Then, because the Democrats _refused_ to suspend their campaign, McCain had no choice but to continue. It’s not his fault! If he had his way, he’d be all up suspending. He’d be suspending his shit all _oooovvver_ the damn place. Its all Obama’s fault. If Obama had simply debated McCain months ago, the way McCain wanted, then they wouldn’t have to debate at all. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/235 "2008-09-26T18:23:05Z")
> [@Fish](#): > > Oh, no no no no. Here’s the spin: > > Senator McCain _wanted_ to suspend his campaign, correctly and honorably, and save Wall Street, but those darn Democrats maneuvered him into a corner. First, they insisted on reading and debating McCain’s last-minute surprise replacement bailout package, stalling as long as possible. Then, because the Democrats _refused_ to suspend their campaign, McCain had no choice but to continue. It’s not his fault! If he had his way, he’d be all up suspending. He’d be suspending his shit all _oooovvver_ the damn place. Its all Obama’s fault. If Obama had simply debated McCain months ago, the way McCain wanted, then they wouldn’t have to debate at all. [You’re not too far off.](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13970_Page2.html) There’s a little more “Democrat political posturing,” “Democrat blame game” and “only thinking of the patriotic taxpayers” but you sure got the tone just right. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/236 "2008-09-26T20:26:28Z")
He’s now making a big show of rushing to Missouri and rushing back to Washington to work on the deal some more. I imagine he’ll be making cell phone calls between questions, because, you know, they can’t do a goddamned thing without him. The only reason we’re in this mess is because he hasn’t been at work since April. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/237 "2008-09-26T20:36:14Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Close, but you missed one important element: > > For five and a half years, McCain was a POW, And yet while there managed to win the presidential debates from his cell (source:Wall Street Journal, 1972). ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/238 "2008-09-26T20:38:08Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Breaking on Fox: > > McCain says he’s going to the debate. He has no choice, really. There wouldn’t be any session tonight. He’d look like an idiot if he stayed in DC doing nothing. Plus the Republicans would rather collectively drink poison than let Barack Obama have 90 minutes of free, unrebutted air time. Meanwhile Obama has just announced he’s flying from Mississippi to D.C. and is criticizing McCain for “abandoning his country in a time of need”. (Source: Wall Street Journal [next to “WSJ welcomes Jayson Blair and Stephen Glass as our election coverage team”). ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/239 "2008-09-26T20:51:35Z")
I wish it were true. Then I’d enjoy the articles about how “blindsided” and “confused” the McCain campaign was by Obama’s actions, as Obama was supposedly by McCain’s. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046.md?page=11)