MetaChat - McCain suspends campaign due to economic crisis.

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24 September 2008

McCain suspends campaign due to economic crisis. Calls for postponement of Friday's debate. (Also, he's had a tummy ache all week, so he wasn't able to study. Plus, his dog ate his notes.)

post by: Atom Eyes at: 14:31 | 30 comments

My heart skipped a beat when I heard the anchor on CNBC in the background say, "The McCain campaign has decide to suspend its campaign..."

posted by mullacc 24 September | 14:38

It's a timeout when the other side gets the lead and is in position to put the game away. . .

posted by danf 24 September | 15:14

CNN's poll reads:

John McCain's request to delay campaigning and this week's debate is:
- An effort to help the economy
- A political gimmick
- Something else

They forgot "- All of the above".

posted by Ardiril 24 September | 15:15

What a TOOL! He knows he's going to get creamed at the debate, and now is trying to make it look like he's taking some responsibility.

This is so clearly a gimmick. There's nothing this turd of a candidate won't do to delay the inevitable.

Obama just keeps on rising and rising.

posted by Lipstick Thespian 24 September | 15:25

Something Else:
I think McCain wants to cancel the debate 'casue he's used to getting up at 4:30 in th morning and by 5p he's ready for bed.

posted by MonkeyButter 24 September | 15:34

I don't think it's a bad idea, and I wish Obama had thought of it first, because he's kinda trapped now.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 24 September | 16:05

McCain's afraid he's getting out-McCained by Obama, so he tries to prove that Obama is not Obama enough to out-McCain McCain.

Yes, it's a transparent strategy, but the nice thing about transparent strategy is that the press gets to feel clever for figuring it out. And that pays dividends down the road.

posted by pokermonk 24 September | 16:26

he's used to getting up at 4:30 in th morning and by 5p he's ready for bed.

...or the early-bird special at Long John Silver.

posted by Miko 24 September | 16:38

Fuck all, people - I'm getting out-McCained by McCain!

Time to pony up, Senator! Either you've got the sack to lead this country no matter what, or you call time-outs.

posted by Lipstick Thespian 24 September | 16:50

Actually, this is interesting. Gingrich had openly called for McCain to denounce "the Bush-Obama bailout" and that Republicans should run against Democrats on it suggested a jujitsu move that had a chance of working. This might help him as well, but it seems a bit less certain to. One way or another, he's upped the "crisis" ante and is now going to have some substantial ownership of whatever happens.

posted by stilicho 24 September | 17:14

For what it's worth, the man who is leading congressional Democrats in negotiating the bailout deal with the administration isn't impressed with Sen. McCain's announcement.

Rep. Barney Frank told a group of reporters outside the House chamber "It's the longest Hail Mary pass in the history of either football or Marys."

Heh, and she should know. I love you Barney!

posted by MonkeyButter 24 September | 17:20

Bet any money Palin doesn't show up, either. Any. Money.

posted by chewatadistance 24 September | 17:51

And McCain proposes to push the debate to Oct 2ns - the date for the first VP debate - rescheduling the first of 2 VP debate for another time. (kos)

Is McCain really running his own campaign or is Rove-lite up to no-good, again?

posted by MonkeyButter 24 September | 18:10

This is weird. I guess I don't really understand the nature of your economic crisis, because I don't really get what postponing or cancelling a debate would do to help matters.

Again, I probably have pathetically little understanding of the situation but from where I stand this looks 100% like a pose -- acting like this thing rilly, rilly matters to you and thereby implying that it doesn't really matter to your opponent.

posted by loiseau 24 September | 18:15

So he's not on any committee that would even REMOTELY involve itself in economic matters, he's not an economic expert, odds are he couldn't pass a basic college macroeconomics class... so he plans to do what exactly?
Oh, stand around, get in the way, dance for photo ops, and try to get people who have more important things to do to talk to his twinkie running mate so she can tell people she's involved in senate business? Yeah. that sounds about right.

posted by kellydamnit 24 September | 18:43

And McCain proposes to push the debate to Oct 2ns - the date for the first VP debate - rescheduling the first of 2 VP debate for another time.

Is "when hell freezes over" a time? since I think he wants to set it for about then.

posted by kellydamnit 24 September | 18:44

"I don't really get what postponing or cancelling a debate would do to help matters."

Obama and McCain both have day jobs, in the US Senate in DC. Passing this bill most likely involve many late-night sessions throughout the weekend and well into next week. With $700 billion to throw around, a lot of people will be demanding their share.

kellydamnit: Were you talking of McCain or Obama?

posted by Ardiril 24 September | 18:45

It's a "Fail Mary" pass, and if Obama had suggested it first, he would've only lost respect from me. And he has already lost a lot. The only thing that keeps me in O's camp is knowing how dishonest and traitorous Bush/Cheney/McCain and their crew is.

posted by wendell 24 September | 18:48

McCain... Obama's already said he thinks getting the whole presidential campaign media circus involved will only needlessly complicate the situiation. Right now the people meeting late at night are the people who have a basic working understanding of our monetary system and economy- something McCain has admitted isn't his strong suit many times.
McCain's wife owns a plane... I'm sure when they announce a vote he'll be able to get there to cast his.

posted by kellydamnit 24 September | 18:52

Obama and McCain both have day jobs, in the US Senate in DC. Passing this bill most likely involve many late-night sessions throughout the weekend and well into next week. With $700 billion to throw around, a lot of people will be demanding their share.

Except that neither of them needs to do anything or in fact has the power to do anything other than to talk about it and call for inclusions until it comes to a vote. Neither is on any of the committees that are charged with considering the bailout proposal and crafting a bailout bill. So they would be showing up in DC to hurry up and wait and until a draft bill exists. Needless.

posted by Miko 24 September | 19:20

Do you really think that is all that is involved in this?

posted by Ardiril 24 September | 20:04

DEAR AMERICAN VOTERS: THE DOG ATE JOHNNY'S TALKING POINTS. PLEASE EXCUSE HIM FROM THE DEBATES.

SINCERELY,
JOHN MCCAIN'S MOTHER.

posted by scody 24 September | 20:16

Do you really think that is all that is involved in this?

No, but I think it helps McCain not to talk about it. Challenge him on his excuse! What is that so needs doing?

posted by Miko 24 September | 20:28

Palin may suspend her campaign, too. For some reason.

posted by ColdChef 24 September | 20:50

It's moose season, dude.

posted by jonmc 24 September | 20:52

Obama just needs to get on tv and say "well, we both selected people who had to be ready at a moments notice, why not call upon them Friday? We can move the presidential debate to the date of the vp debate, and allow them to go first."

posted by kellydamnit 24 September | 20:57

SINCERELY,
JOHN MCCAIN'S MOTHER.

It took a lot of effort for his mom to write that comment since computers are baffling to 16th century people.

posted by jonmc 24 September | 20:59

Jesus God, where was this fucking comedy gold when I needed it in '04?

posted by trondant 25 September | 01:40

Yep, the guy who graduated 894th out of 899 from his naval academy is the one we working on this bailout doohicky. Wotta a dynamo! And obviously, the crisis also calls for Palin's expertise, since I understand that you can see a bank from some spots in Alaska.

Thank goodness the Palin and McCain administration are on it; I think we can all sleep easier tonight.

posted by taz 25 September | 02:39

I really haven't been following this whole election mess (on purpose), but this move even dragged me into it - WHAT THE FUCK!!!???? You want to be President Of The Free World, but you can't think or talk about more than one thing at a time? Where do you people drag up your presidential candidates - Australia's One Nation Party rejects?

posted by dg 25 September | 05:34

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