Polimom . . . the tic-toc sounds sort of confused, from what I have heard.

I partly sympathize with Obama, as it seems he was blindsided on this one. As near as I can figure, McCain saw some opportunity to expand upon Obama's suggestion to have them both in DC leading the resolution.

Anyhow, I will retreat to my position that while McCain may have meant well . . . I do believe it a very political gambit.

What you say is very true. But what McCain is doing is characteristically McCain, no? He plays wild cards that may be disastrous or inspired . . . or both. A lot of conservatives still have whiplash from the Palin pick, while a lot of liberals have not recovered their sensibilities from it.

I have no idea at all how this will play out. But McCain has taken the initiative . . .which he had lost. Obama responded. Now it is McCain's turn.

My understanding is that McCain did, in fact, agree to that.

Obama's wanting McCain to issue a joint statement with him was similarly self-interested

True enough.

But–maybe removing this issue wouldn't have preserved Obama's advantage. Wouldn't removing this issue from partisan politics have benefited John McCain even more, since this issue is such a loser for him?

Not to mention, possibly making a solution easier to achieve? Wouldn't a solution have, possibly, detoxified this issue somewhat?

Wouldn't McCain now be able to claim a successful example of bipartisanship in the face of all kinds of partisan jockeying for position? Which seems to have been the goal (unless, really, the goal was simply to avoid a public debate).

Doesn't the notion of McCain trying to fix the economy just serve to remind the voters that he doesn't know much about the economy?

Just because McCain is doing something unusual, doesn't mean he's doing something sensible.

Or useful.

Or even helpful to himself.

I would argue that everything is political in an election year. People are just desperate not to want to “appear political”.

Recall the Iran Hostage Crisis. That was a very political issue in the 1980 election, which everyone was desperate to try to appear nonpartisan about . . .being political all the while.

FDR was calculating political advantage throughout WW II. As was Churchill.
They did their nations' business . . . but calculated nonetheless.

McCain is doing the same here.

After all . . . Obama's wanting McCain to issue a joint statement with him was similarly self-interested: He wanted to tie McCain to committing to a plan . . . removing the possibility Democrats had publicly worried about if they passed a plan with Bush, and McCain denounced it.

Obama has the advantage at the moment. A joint statement would preserve his advantage on the economy.

Why should McCain agree to that?

McCain may well lose this election. But he will not be Bob Dole Redux.

There was a Civil War in this country and we didn't suspend electoral campaigning.