Does he really want to play poker with Obama? Really? Honestly?
I’d wager almost anything that he’ll show up, regardless. And subtly whine and kvetch about how they should be in Washington, working hard to move daddy’s sofa.
Although I’d pay almost anything for Barack to just have the 90 minutes as an open forum.
This is really pathetic from the McCain camp. We’ll whine and whine and pretend to give a shit until we get our way; and if we don’t get our way, then… uh… uh… Iguesswe’llshowupFridaynightbutIwon’twearasmile.
I wonder how Sarah Palin feels, knowing that she has such little confidence from her freaking running mate.
And, as I said either in another thread or a previous page of this one (hard to keep track of fast-breaking events), and will repeat because I think it’s significant, for McCain to suddenly squeal his tires back to D.C. like this is another Pearl Harbor does not well convey thoughtfulness and statesmanlike demeanor; instead, it sends the message that HOLY SHIT THE SKY IS FALLING THE ECONOMY IS GETTING NUKED and risks making things a fuck of a lot worse than they are.
Thursday to Friday morning, we should see sufficient “progress” on the bailout plan to permit McCain to break away for a short while, just long enough to attend the debate and then go back to work in Washington.
Oh… and McCain will take credit for the “progress” even though McCain was really in the Capitol basement preparing for the debate the whole time.
It may be laziness, but I respect Bush for not pushing his nose into something he doesn’t understand. He is cheerleading, he’ll probably be using his access to the media to try to push the plan his advisers came up with, but he doesn’t seem to be trying to be another cook. Sometimes leadership and good management involves letting the experts who work for you do their job, and giving guidance and helping to sell the results.
How the hell is McCain (or Obama) going to get involved without looking over their shoulders at the current poll numbers? We don’t need that.
No, not really. I understand that you think that they should do and DO SOMETHING.
I say again, what exactly you think they can do IN PRACTICAL CONCRETE TERMS, ie, not just amorphously “showing leadership” or “putting actions into words” or “working with both parties” These are meaningless, feel good statements.
I actually think both can help, particularly McCain. He has proven that he can help form consensus. with the extra clout he now has he could be even more effective in that regard. I think Obama could play a similar role, though McCain could probably do more across the aisle.
And this notion that they should be able to “do more than one thing at a time” is ridiculous. Sometimes you have to be in the room. You have to be part of the debate. Given the timeframes we’re dealing with and the speed at which things have to get done (or so we’re told), this is one of those times. I was impressed with McCain when I forst heard about it. I actually think the best thing Obama could have done was say “You know, John’s right on this. That’s a great idea. And I’m not going to discount what’s good for the country because the idea didn’t come from me or our side. This is a critical time. The debate can wait a few days. I’ll see you in Washington, John.”
I think that would have one-upped McCain, in a way that fits with the Obama brand.
Well, I don’t know if he is actually panicking; rather, he thinks he is displaying firm, decisive leadership, and a willingness and ability to take command in a crisis. That this looks like panic is merely an unfortunate perception. That this unfortunate perception risks further destabilizing a volatile situation and causing vast economic damage is what’s significant. IMO.
And that’s the *exact *angle that Obama should be taking on this. Paint McCain as a panicky poor decision maker given to snap decision making without weighing out consequences of his actions. We all admire grandpa, but you know how he gets, and c’mon folks, maybe he spent just a liiiiiiitle too much time in that tiger cage, if you know what I mean. He means well but he just gets a little confused and sometimes he pees in the cloakroom.
I just wish that the Dems could for once show some balls. I never wanted Hillary, but that woman would have eaten McCain’s lunch by now. Total evisceration .
Let’s see . . . what was going on the last time George Bush asked Congress to super-quick pass a trillion-dollar expenditure? Hmm . . . I’m trying to recall . . . but anyway, I know the man must be trustworthy, because Karl Rove says so. Whatever it is Bush wants, we goshdarn better pass it quick. With full bipartisan support. And not read it first, or think about it. Whatever we do, we must not think of President Bush as the Boy Who Cried Wolfowitz.
None of this is really about “what we need.” This is about the fact that he’s way behind in the polls all of a sudden, and probably figured it’s going to get worse because the economy will keep dominating the news. Neither candidate has said much about what to do in this situation, and I don’t blame them: this bailout idea is a very vague solution to a complex problem, and taking anything other than a cautiously qualified stance would be dumb.
All those who think that McCain and Obama should be back in washington demonstrating how well they can ‘reach across the aisle’, ask yourself this: how many Republicans want to contribute to the headline “Obama Leads Coalition in Fixing the Economy”? They’d chew their own arm off first! And the Democrats would be no better. If either of them went to washington and actually tried to influence legislation it would polarize the issue - and if both of them went both sides would dig in break out the cannons!
Seems the GOP is playing on the culture of fear that Bush Jr. created so many times to get his way. Hopefully, the electorate has learned from past mistakes.