# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/61 "2008-09-24T22:46:45Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > He also doesn’t miss a chance to hammer Obama about not agreeing to “town hall” formats or traveling to the place together (which I thought was the stupidest idea I’d ever heard). I think he must need someone to help him up to the stage and show him where the mike is and stuff. Since Obama wouldn’t do it, he recruited Palin to hold his hand. Maybe she should wear a nurse’s uniform while touring. ---
**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, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/62 "2008-09-24T22:46:49Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > A snap poll in GD is showing that for the time being, many people are not believing McCain, unfortunately his “scorched earth” policy against the media is not helping remove the impression that many people have now that McCain is being less fair or truthful with his campaign edicts. That doesn’t sound unfortunate to me. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/63 "2008-09-24T22:53:34Z")
> [@DoctorJ](#): > > Like I said in the GD thread, it’s not entirely a campaign move by McCain. It’s also part of a larger theatrical production by the GOP intended to boost the idea that we have to pass a bill RIGHT THIS SECOND. See also Bush’s prime-time address tonight. > > More pressure means a better chance of pushing through a bill that gives the store away to the Wall Street cronies with a minimum of oversight, regulation, or reciprocity. It also means that Democrats who think it’s worth taking a few days to craft a strong bill can be labeled as obstructionists. Luckily, a lot of Republicans are less than thrilled with the original bill also. I do believe you have the real reason for this, though. But exactly how is Senator “I don’t understand economics” going to help negotiate this very complex bill. Keeping them both out of it will make things go more smoothly, and hooray for Harry! Considering how McCain has been all over the place, the last thing the nation needs is for him to be butting in. Someone draw him with pointy hair making suggestions at an engineering meeting. if Obama was nasty, he might mention that they’ve got this thing called email which will let him see the latest drafts, and these things called phones which would let him participate if needed in the negotiations. ---
**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, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/64 "2008-09-24T22:54:02Z")
I particularly liked the last two paragraphs of [this article](http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/24/obama_debate_should_go_on.html?hpid=topnews). Obama can and should remain classy throughout. ---
**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 24, 2008, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/65 "2008-09-24T23:00:59Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > What [McCain was doing today:](http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0908/A_nonemergency_meeting.html) Not only that, but according to [Drudge](http://drudgereport.com/flash3cbm.htm), McCain went amnd taped an interview wih Katie Couric right after he cancelled with Letterman: > [@](#): > > David Letterman tells audience that McCain called him today to tell him he had to rush back to DC to deal with the economy. > > Then in the middle of the taping Dave got word that McCain was, in fact just down the street being interviewed by Katie Couric. Dave even cut over to the live video of the interview, and said, “Hey Senator, can I give you a ride home?” ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/66 "2008-09-24T23:38:06Z")
McCain spokesman on MSNBC has just said, and I quote “We have a 9/11 style crisis here.” “Payrolls won’t be met. People will lose their houses!” How disgusting. **DrJ** is exactly right. They are trying to put the fear of Jesus into the electorate so that they can grab that last bit of cash on the way out the door. Fuckers. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/67 "2008-09-24T23:46:23Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > “We have a 9/11 style crisis here.” For anyone who isn’t following both threads, [this was what I said about the McCain camp’s approach to this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10238213&postcount=202). They deserve to have their balls handed to them. ---
**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, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/68 "2008-09-24T23:46:39Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > McCain spokesman on MSNBC has just said, and I quote “We have a 9/11 style crisis here.” “Payrolls won’t be met. _People will lose their houses!_” > > How disgusting. **DrJ** is exactly right. They are trying to put the fear of Jesus into the electorate so that they can grab that last bit of cash on the way out the door. Fuckers. I wonder if he means people will lose their (several) houses. ---
**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, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/69 "2008-09-24T23:49:00Z")
> [@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.” According to Forbes, [they still don’t:](http://www.forbes.com/home/2008/09/23/bailout-paulson-congress-biz-beltway-cx_jz_bw_0923bailout.html) > [@](#): > > some of the most basic details, including the $700 billion figure Treasury would use to buy up bad debt, are fuzzy. > > “It’s not based on any particular data point,” a Treasury spokeswoman told [Forbes.com](http://Forbes.com) Tuesday. “We just wanted to choose a really large number.” _THAT_ is frightening. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/70 "2008-09-24T23:50:25Z")
> [@FallenAngel](#): > > I think it would make all manner of sense for both of them to actually go back to Washington for a few days and get up to speed on one of the major issues one or the other of them will be inheriting come January 20. It’s lucky that Obama can use email though, and can get up to speed pretty much anywhere in the country! ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/71 "2008-09-25T00:00:23Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > “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. I like the way you think. I hope he does just that. And makes an ad of it. And gives the rights to YouTube, where it can play 24/7 to millions… ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/72 "2008-09-25T00:16:38Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > \< . . . \> > > But exactly how is Senator “I don’t understand economics” going to help negotiate this very complex bill. Keeping them both out of it will make things go more smoothly, and hooray for Harry! Considering how McCain has been all over the place, the last thing the nation needs is for him to be butting in. Someone draw him with pointy hair making suggestions at an engineering meeting. > > \< . . . \> I had much the same thought, but then it occurred to me that the [McCain’s economic brain](http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/horsey/viewbydate.asp?id=1825) may have come up with something crucial to add to the mix. Like more deregulation. ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/73 "2008-09-25T00:30:10Z")
The first thing I thought when I first saw the headline: “McCain, you pussy.” ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/74 "2008-09-25T00:38:50Z")
> [@Jman](#): > > The first thing I thought when I first saw the headline: > > “McCain, you pussy.” I thought, “well, well, well, Senator–you blinked. Just what your esteemed running mate said you couldn’t do…” I hope to hell this is the last straw. Enough already with the nonsense. He wants to run the country and yet can’t multi-task? He’s got advisors to brief him on what’s going on. And Harry did tell him to stay home. (maybe he’s not sure which home to go to?) I so hope Obama does a rally at Ole Miss on Friday. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/75 "2008-09-25T00:43:49Z")
> [@Jman](#): > > The first thing I thought when I first saw the headline: > > “McCain, you pussy.” That’s funny- that’s _exactly_ what I thought, as well. Word-for-word. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/76 "2008-09-25T00:57:31Z")
Ah…the cowards are circling the wagons. Can capitulation be far behind? ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/77 "2008-09-25T01:22:45Z")
If it were any other time, any other election, McCain’s campaign could easily spin this as McCain taking leadership and not cowing to the Washington politicians, because he’s a maverick, dammit! And it would have played well. But people are sick, sick, sick of the bullshit, and not just on lefty message boards any more, it seems. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/78 "2008-09-25T01:27:06Z")
> [@McCain Spokesperson](#): > > Senator Obama phoned Senator McCain at 8:30 am this morning but did not reach him. The topic of Senator Obama’s call to Senator McCain was never discussed. Senator McCain was meeting with economic advisers and talking to leaders in Congress throughout the day prior to calling Senator Obama. They’re just being shy. He also saved 100 orphans from a burning building, removed a thorn from tiger’s paw, bottle-fed a baby panda, brokered peace in the middle east, and served food in a soup kitchen. It was only then that he found the time to call Obama to inform him of the situation going on in Washington. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/79 "2008-09-25T01:28:34Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > So, is Palin cancelling all those interviews and press conferences she’d planned for next week? Palin isn’t a member of the federal government. She has to be ready to fly back to Alaska at a moment’s notice if Russia invades. She knows a lot about Russia. You can see it from Alaska, you know. McCain’s move was, to me, clearly another attempt at a Palin. The Palin thing worked; it gave him a bump and seems to have impressed some voters permanently. But his campaign is flagging, and acted very stupidly last week, so he decided to try another Hail Mary pass. It’ll take a few days to determine what the effect is. Most people here see it’s nonsense, and it is, but this board isn’t a representative data sample. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046/80 "2008-09-25T01:34:08Z")
Bush has invited both candidates to meet, and Obama agreed. Good call by Obama, respecting the president’s appeal. I can’t see any way for McCain to spin this now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-call-bullshit-on-john-mccains-purely-political-suspension-tactic/465046.md?page=5)