I mean, seriously, did Carter suspend his debates because of Iran Contra? Did Bush Senior cancel his debates because of the 1991 recession? This is a gambit, but it's an All In strategy. McCain could have very well lost the election with this move.

I don't know what to say to that, to be honest. Perhaps it is just as well . . . .

But he IS the President . . . so he should be leading, no?.
That is why he is getting paid.

Actually, I have wondered whether Bush has become clinically depressed. Woodward's latest notes how he has taken to slouching all the time (see his recent TV appearances) and has developed a paunch. Given how super-tight Bush has tended to be about control and order, these are odd signs.

But he does not seem to be leading. I suppose that just bothers me (regardless of quality of said leadership).

You devote lines and lines to McCain and Obama . . . then the President gets an epilogue: “He said nothing new or remarkable.”

True. Funny how you phrased it.

But isn't it sad that the President of the United States seems AWOL at this time?

The sensible ones have priorities right now and support McCain's gambit. The smarter ones realize it's a shrewd move. Obama currently is insisting on staying on schedule with the debate and he doesn't look good in doing so. What matters most depends on how things go tomorrow with progress on some bailout scheme. McCain doesn't look bad, but good, if he chooses to forego the debate at this time and if Obama shows up anyway, he looks childish — worse if he tries to make jokes about at the debate site at a missing McCain's desired expense.

* * *

Bush has just finished his address to the nation. He said nothing new or remarkable.

There's always appealing to fools: “McCain can't walk and chew gum at the same time!”

Hey, your pope talk won't work on me, I've been tried and tested.

Recalls to mind the “Fusilli Jerry” episode of Seinfeld…

I can see McCain as Frank Costanza: “It was a million to one shot, doc . . . million to one.”

Let's see if she pulls it off..

Uhh…..

This has the feeling of the wheels falling off the McCain Wagon. This silly little McCain stunt could be the game-changer that firmly pegs the needle in the Obama direction. Still far too early to tell (waaaay too early), but in a few months we may all be looking back at this as the decisive moment that finally decided the election.

Say goodnight, Gracie.

JS . . . of course it was a punch. Well, a gambit is not really a punch…but a ploy.
But it was overtly political. I have said so from the beginning.

“And pardon me if I don't buy the suggestion that you know what the American people think.”

O course, you are pardoned. . . in nomine patrie et file et spiritus sancti . . .go and sin no more

I think Americans, in general, care about fairness.

Obama will have to pull some of his punches . . . as Pacatrue and Elrod noted. . .retool other ads.

Recall how the utter viciousness of the attacks on Palin in the first weekend helped boost her numbers into the stratosphere.

Besides, McCain is sorely needed in “Operation Fear-Monger/Blackmail” to get their gravy-Bill shoved down our panicky throats while we are preoccupied with fear..

His appearance on Capitol Hill is not welcome or needed. His charade is transparent. The voters will register their mounting anger at the polls and it won't fare well for the GOP.

They'd best knock it off while they still have a political head to hold up at all..

Well, I suppose McCain and Palin could try to just roll themselves up in a fetal position and whine until the elections. I suppose it would be good identity politics because, after all, the American people are a bunch of whiners.

Blackmail.

Yep, I said blackmail.

Bush is now going to use fear to herd the American people into the panic corral to put pressure on Congress to pass his gravy-bailout for his buddies at the expense of the American people.

Putting the blinders of fear on people to wrench their support for this travesty, this armed robbery, this ripoff of the American public…..OK, my blood is BOILING right now.

Bush is going to say that “if you don't pressure Congress to act now (hasitly and stupidly instead of calmly coming up with a plan that will work) your 401Ks will be in trouble.”

My first response was “Oh my f-ing God, they're blackmailing us now!!”

Don't stand for it people. Grit your teeth and sock 'em in the nose November. Tell your representatives to slow down just to spite these thugs.

“Presidents are going to have to deal with more than one thing at a time. It’s not necessary for us to think that we can do only one thing, and suspend everything else.” ~ Obama

McCain seems to have disarmed unilaterally . . . and may go to Washington by himself.

Obama's ads, already in the pipeline hammering McCain, will be undermined by the fact that McCain has simply refused to fight.

Elrod . . . punching out a guy who refuses to punch back just doesn't look good (well, to the DU and KOS folks it might, but not to the American people).