# 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:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lama\_Pacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/21 "2008-09-24T20:25:40Z")
This is just pathetic. If McCain can actually pull this election off, we’re a society of idiots. Three strikes and we’re out. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/22 "2008-09-24T20:25:55Z")
Should Obama go on to deny McCain’s request, how best to do so publicly? Obviously, hard core McCain supporters will cry foul no matter what Obama does, but for those people who who are truly interested in how Obama responds, what does he say to them? ---
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/23 "2008-09-24T20:28:06Z")
> [@askeptic](#): > > You shit eating scum sucking fucking worthless moron. He decided to put his senatorial duties on hold when he decided to run for president. He is the nominee his fucking job is to make his case for why he should be president. Part of that job is to present his views and debate the other contender so the people can make an informed decision as to who should lead this country through the fucking quagmire that the republican party has gotten us into. What the fuck, you think the hundreds of other senators congressmen and various other officials can’t get along without John McCain pounding his chest screaming “country First”. You fucking weasily apologist worthless motherfuckers make me want to move to South America and join the revolution against this retarded country full of morons like you. Well, I wasn’t going to say it like that, but you do have a point. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/24 "2008-09-24T20:34:24Z")
> [@Noelq](#): > > A senator is stopping his non-job related duties to pay attention to his job-related duties, and you’re outraged? > > More senators should pay attention to their JOBS and their ELECTED DUTIES, rather than focusing on their re-election campaigns and fundraising. ABout ime I guess: [Link.](http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/24/16146/9377/154/609039) > [@](#): > > Some fun facts about John McCain: Of all Senators, John McCain has been the most absent. There have been 643 votes taken in the current Senate session: McCain has missed 412 of them. > > McCain has not voted in the Senate since April 8th. Since March, he has missed 109 of the last 110 votes. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/25 "2008-09-24T20:35:37Z")
Not sure what you all think McCain is trying to accomplish, but delaying the debate merely puts it closer to the election, so its impact would be more profound. This bailout may be the most important decision Congress has made in my lifetime. Pundits are saying that without a bailout our economy is in danger of entering a freefall. If that happens, it doesn’t matter who the President is next year. We’ll all be screwed. So McCain gets a pass from me on this until the bailout is complete, which I hope will take place within a week. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/26 "2008-09-24T20:36:29Z")
> [@Lama\_Pacos](#): > > This is just pathetic. If McCain can actually pull this election off, we’re a society of idiots. Three strikes and we’re out. While I don’t think that three strikes will put us out, I’m not going to argue with the “we’re a society of idiots” statement. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/27 "2008-09-24T20:39:05Z")
> [@Jolly\_Roger](#): > > Well, I wasn’t going to say it like that, but you do have a point. I thought it could use more vitriol but I decided to post the toned down version instead… ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/28 "2008-09-24T20:40:37Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > Not sure what you all think McCain is trying to accomplish, but delaying the debate merely puts it closer to the election, so its impact would be more profound. > > This bailout may be the most important decision Congress has made in my lifetime. Pundits are saying that without a bailout our economy is in danger of entering a freefall. If that happens, it doesn’t matter who the President is next year. We’ll all be screwed. > > So McCain gets a pass from me on this until the bailout is complete, which I hope will take place within a week. Oh, _horsehit!_ The _only_ reason to push this thing through so quickly was in hopes [no one would notice Section 8:](http://losangeles.injuryboard.com/miscellaneous/32-problems-with-the-wall-street-bailout.aspx?googleid=247984) > [@](#): > > Section 8: Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency. And _supposedly_, part of what they want to do is “outsource” the spending of the money to the execs at the very same companies which are going to be bailed out! Yeah, _that’s_ a good idea. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/29 "2008-09-24T20:41:35Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > This bailout may be the most important decision Congress has made in my lifetime. Pundits are saying that without a bailout our economy is in danger of entering a freefall. If this bailout is all so all fired important, why did the administration wait till September to roll it out? Surely the signs were all there in August, or is this another case of “no one could have predicted…”? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/30 "2008-09-24T20:44:39Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Should Obama go on to deny McCain’s request, how best to do so publicly? Obviously, hard core McCain supporters will cry foul no matter what Obama does, but for those people who who are truly interested in how Obama responds, what does he say to them? “If Senator McCain feels that he is unable to address the current financial situation, and campaign for president at the same time, by all means, we should postpone the debate.” Then, on the day the debate should have happened, Obama goes to wherever the debate was supposed to be held (Mississippi, I believe?) and holds an impromptu political rally during the time the debate would have been held. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/31 "2008-09-24T20:45:29Z")
> [@askeptic](#): > > You shit eating scum sucking fucking worthless moron. He decided to put his senatorial duties on hold when he decided to run for president. He is the nominee his fucking job is to make his case for why he should be president. Part of that job is to present his views and debate the other contender so the people can make an informed decision as to who should lead this country through the fucking quagmire that the republican party has gotten us into. What the fuck, you think the hundreds of other senators congressmen and various other officials can’t get along without John McCain pounding his chest screaming “country First”. You fucking weasily apologist worthless motherfuckers make me want to move to South America and join the revolution against this retarded country full of morons like you. Good god, man, get ahold of yourself. BREATHE. That’s a little too ad hom even for the pit. It’s a valid opinion for christ’s sake. The opposite opinion is valid, too. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/32 "2008-09-24T20:45:33Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > If this bailout is all so all fired important, why did the administration wait till September to roll it out? > Surely the signs were all there in August, or is this another case of “no one could have predicted…”? They didn’t realize that the bad loans were “in the area around Wall Street and Broadway and east, west, south and north somewhat.” ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/33 "2008-09-24T20:48:55Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > Not sure what you all think McCain is trying to accomplish, but delaying the debate merely puts it closer to the election, so its impact would be more profound. If my esteemed Dopers are to be believed, and why shouldn’t they, there are two other debates scheduled after this one, so that is kind of a moot point. Unless he wants to move them all back. ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/34 "2008-09-24T20:52:12Z")
McCain / Palin TIME OUT! ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/35 "2008-09-24T20:57:21Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > In a transparent attempt to both avoid having to debate Barack Obama on friday and to boost his plummeting poll numbers, the McCain camp has contrived the purely political tactic of pretending to [“suspend”](http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D93D8TDO0&show_article=1) his campaign and run away from friday’s debate. > > This is not about “putting aside politics.” This IS politics. This is a POLITICAL move. Obama should come out to the microphone and cluck like a chicken. That should be his response. He can’t keep campaigning, of course, but he should clearly call this for the passive-aggressive political stunt that it is. Twice in one day? I agree with you twice in one fucking day? The end is near:D ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/36 "2008-09-24T20:57:30Z")
So, is Palin cancelling all those interviews and press conferences she’d planned for next week? ---
**Author:** ![Claptree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Claptree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claptree)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/37 "2008-09-24T21:01:32Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > They didn’t realize that the bad loans were “in the area around Wall Street and Broadway and east, west, south and north somewhat.” Dammit! Now I need a new keyboard and monitor! So, um.. Fuck you? ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/38 "2008-09-24T21:03:58Z")
Here’s an idea, both candidates have a running mate why not let them debate instead? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/39 "2008-09-24T21:04:56Z")
> [@Noelq](#): > > A senator is stopping his non-job related duties to pay attention to his job-related duties, and you’re outraged? > > More senators should pay attention to their JOBS and their ELECTED DUTIES, rather than focusing on their re-election campaigns and fundraising. :dubious: Not when they’re engaged in the even more important job of running for president. After all, there are **100** senators, they **will** decide on some kind of response to the financial crisis one way or another, and I hardly think Obama or McCain needs to be present to make up a quorum. ---
**Author:** ![Noelq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noelq/32/16438_2.png) [@Noelq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noelq)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/40 "2008-09-24T21:05:16Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > As I said in the GD thread, their jobs became Presidential Candidate when they were nominated. There are exactly two people in the US who are running for President; I submit that their duties in that respect are rather a bit more pressing than those duties hundreds of other Washington people can and already are dealing with. I submit that fixing the economic issues are quite possibly the most pressing issue we have right now. As we all have experienced, discussing things over the phone is a much different barganing process than when its a face-to-face meeting. I believe that his role as the most influential republican in these matters would supercede any other tasks he would have on hand. The influence he could bring into play into getting this settled, AS WELL AS the influence Obama could have for his side of the party, would best work for getting a quick solution. The financial situation is very complex, and I believe that having these two influential men in the center of the political debate, in PERSON, best serves the needs of the country right now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046.md?page=3)