McCain suspending campaign to focus on the economy

[brian0918]

It looks like McCain is suspending his campaign temporarily in order to get involved in the government bailout negotiations. He wants to delay the debate with Obama, and he's asking Obama to also suspend his campaign.

So, if Obama says No, is that one point for Obama, and one point against McCain? Surely anyone who wants to get involved in these government bailouts - to get them moving forward - is not someone for whom we should be voting, no?

Edited September 24, 2008 by brian0918

[gags]

So, if Obama says No, is that one point for Obama, and one point against McCain? Surely anyone who wants to get involved in these government bailouts - to get them moving forward - is not someone for whom we should be voting, no?

Originally McCain expressed some opposition to the bailout, but I expect that he'll come around to the Washington way of thinking. This bailout is going to happen, now it's just a question of how bad the final proposal will turn out to be. Both sides seem to have agreed on limits to executive pay, but I'm hoping someone with a brain realizes that foreclosure moratoriums and loosening up the bankruptcy laws are like throwing gas on the fire.

The bailout will be a disaster and we're going to feel its effects for years to come.

[adrock3215]

They should bail me out too while they're at it. I've had a horrible week in the markets and they are the reason why. Foolish of me to try to trade in this environment, where liquidity is dried up. I'm done trading until the short sale ban is up on Oct 2 (or, whenever it may be, if they extend it longer).

The best response to this bailout came from some Republican congressman who spoke in opposition to the bailout yesterday. I saw in the paper he said something to the effect of: "They [Paulson and Bernanke] keep saying we must act now. The last time I heard that I was on a used car lot."

[gags]

That was Mike Pence from Indiana who made the used car lot crack. A few Republicans are against this proposal, but they won't be able to do enough to stop it:

"We are highly skeptical of the Paulson plan and believe that the time has come for Congress to rationally debate alternatives," said Rep. Jeb Hensarling (Texas), chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC).

Hensarling said he was not personally criticizing Paulson or President Bush for their proposal, but called their approach to resolving the financial market meltdown "a particularly lousy option."

The RSC plan would suspend the capital gains tax; privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which Hensarling described as "financial Frankensteins created in a government laboratory"; and refocus the Federal Reserve on long-term price stability.

[KendallJ]

The problem is that the philosophically corrupt underpinnings of this administration and the party in power is forcing their altruistic chickens to come home to roost. And they are coming home while the party is still in power.

Post hoc, ergo propter hoc.... (hmm what's the latin for whatever happens on your watch is your fault?) The republicans know they'll lose power over this mess (even if for the wrong reasons) and most are willing to sell out their principles (such as a principled defense of capitalism) in order to try to hold onto it. Appearing to look like they're doing something is their only hope.

...cowards

[D'kian]

When I contemplate this year's election, the phrase that keeps coming to mind is "Socialists to the left of me, socialists to the right of me." And we all know how the Light Brigade fared.

[4reason]

So, if Obama says No, is that one point for Obama, and one point against McCain? Surely anyone who wants to get involved in these government bailouts - to get them moving forward - is not someone for whom we should be voting, no?

I am hesitant to say "one point for Obama," but I do consider this a bad move on McCain's part. Is he an active member of Congress who should be involved in the "crisis resolution" there? Yes, but at the same time he is a candidate for the most powerful office this country has to offer, so he needs to be able to tell the American people what he thinks and what he would do about the situation. The fact that he wants to delay the debate seems to suggest that he is trying to buy time to let other people tell him what he should say. It sounds as though he is scared to actually get involved in a debate about the economy - and you know that would be the big topic of the debate, along with the war - because he doesn't know what to think or say, and that doesn't say much for his ability to think through a crisis. That's my impression, anyway.

I wish there were more politicians these days who were more like John Adams: who actually had opinions of their own, could justify their reasoning, and who were not afraid to tell you about it.

[NineInfinity]

I think McCain has just handed Obama the presidency. Obama took a huge jump in the polls over the weekend and this move seems out of desperation and it will probably backfire on McCain. Get ready for 4 years of socialism and anti-white racism.

[Miles White]

I think McCain has just handed Obama the presidency. Obama took a huge jump in the polls over the weekend and this move seems out of desperation and it will probably backfire on McCain. Get ready for 4 years of socialism and anti-white racism.

If McCain in fact does win... get ready for 4 years of socialism and anti-Wall Street rhetoric.

[01503]

If McCain in fact does win... get ready for 4 years of socialism and anti-Wall Street rhetoric.

lol That's if EITHER wins. This is what we call "rammed in both ends".

[Yes]

I think McCain has just handed Obama the presidency. Obama took a huge jump in the polls over the weekend and this move seems out of desperation and it will probably backfire on McCain. Get ready for 4 years of socialism and anti-white racism.

Sheer garbage.

Are you NOT concerned that your rights will be relinquished under a Religious Right theocracy?

Go ahead and vote for the flipper and his imbecilic mate. Prove Ayn Rand right about the downward spiral this country is going through.

[fletch]

Are you NOT concerned that your rights will be relinquished under a Religious Right theocracy?

Do you have some evidence of this looming theocracy? And how will it work, exactly? Is McCain going to be taking orders from the Vatican? Will democrat majorities in the House and Senate be powerless to stop the religious coup? Or are you just on some unsubstantiated, fear-fueled rant?