Debates and Debacles: Obama vs. McCain
We are now getting word that there will be something happening in Mississippi tomorrow night, even if it’s only a town hall hosted by Barack Obama rather than the long-awaited first debate. Allow me to take a step back from the ongoing battles and crisis scenarios to simply say the following: both of these campaigns are (sadly) taking the current economic panic and trying their level best to twist it to their political advantage, but by far the worst perpetrator is the Straight Talk Express. In Congress, we’re seeing more of the same. The Democrats seem to think they need to do something, but they’re not sure what. What they are sure of is that they won’t “walk that plank alone” and will not act unless the GOP signs on ahead of time.
The two presidential candidates are playing games and getting their spin doctors out in front of the talking heads 24/7. Neither showed any interest in rushing back initially. (McCain’s people are now claiming he was the one to “answer the 3 am call” but only yesterday afternoon Nancy Pfotenhauer was on MSNBC saying that McCain would be coming back to Washington “if his vote was needed.” That blew up today.) Obama showed a similar lack of interest in coming in off the trail to do his job until he called McCain yesterday morning. (Which I found out from my friend Ed today, the GOP is now trying to spin like it was never something he wanted to do in the first place.)
And now the debate is over whether or not there will be a debate. Of course there has to be a debate. If there’s going to be a vote on this Mother of All Bailouts, it’s not going to happen at 9 pm. And I would hope that Rick Davis realizes that if they try to scratch the VP debate and replace it with a presidential contest, the entire country is going to conclude that they’re still trying to keep a bushel basket over Sarah Palin. (For a good side story, see the whole four questions she bravely took from the press today.)
These people need to get to work and still make the schedule for the campaign so the voters can have all the information they need in November. Playing politics with this is beyond sad, and I lose interest in this election more and more each time they open their mouths.
10 Responses to “Debates and Debacles: Obama vs. McCain”
Actually, there are good reasons for Obama to agree to replacing the VP debate with another presidential debate to make up for tonight's. It keeps Palin out of the spotlight, which is a good thing (she has broad appeal, despite the disgusting behavior directed at her by some liberals, perhaps because she's appealing), and even better, it keeps Biden (hidden by the media) hidden from public exposure the media couldn't conceal. Plus it maintains attention on (or redirects it from Palin to) Obama and McCain, which Obama can return to exploiting (young and attractive and PC-cool Obama versus older, unattractive McCain).
It does no good to be upset (it's also not mature to be upset) if tonight's debate is scrubbed. McCain was clever to exploit the bailout issue and Obama (and a number of people who stand to — improve) needs to realize this and deal with it if not out-maneuver McCain (review preceding paragraph).
I actually read DLS type the words that Biden was “hidden by the media”. We have truly gone beyond the looking glass. Thank you for that, my friend. I can now tune out politics tonight and watch Survivor, secure in the knowledge that it's more real than anything I see being debated in the political arena. Every public appearance by Palin, such as her four questions today and the Katey Couric dog and pony show, remind me that if she has to stand before the wheel at a debate, we can all start printing up those President Obama bumper stickers.
Suppose McCain doesn't show up to the debate. Obama goes anyway and turns it into a townhall meeting. The next thing we would likely hear is how pompous Obama is to do a townhall on his own but refuse to do (was it 10?) with McCain when he offered. The spin cycle would be on high-speed.
I often wonder how the other side would have played their hand given the same scenario. What would McCain's supporters be saying right now if Obama was down by 9 points in a poll, suspended his campaign, and asked the debate to be postponed?
Exposure has been tanking Palin's numbers, so that just doesn't jibe.
Jazz
While there may be some blowback from canceling the VP debate it is becoming obvious that it would be better than letting the debate go forward. After the Couric interview I can only conclude that the woman really is an idiot.
Of course both sides will play politics though I honestly feel that McCain is so much more in the “hole” in this regards…. it was McCain who suspended campaigning, cancelled the debate and called for Obama to do the same.
From what I understand neither Obama nor McCain are currently on any of the committees working on this stuff.
So what part of John McCain's Campaign has he suspended?
His campaign advisers are all over the news today doing their tired talking points and trying to score points against Obama for not overreacting and dropping everything.
His website and donations/fundraising is still open.
He is spending his days with his campaign advisers.
His campaign ads are still being televised in several markets.
He is doing interviews on several news stations tonight.
John McCain, Drama Queen.
“Inconceivable!”
“You keep on using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”
I think really the only thing I can say about McCain is relate this story:
Yesterday when I asked my Mom if she had heard McCain's latest news she said no.
Me: “McCain has suspended his campaign.”
Mom: “Is it because of the financial crisis?”
Me: “Yes.”
Mom: “Is McCain going to the debate on Friday?”
Me: “He says he won't go.”
Mom: “Coward.”
I really think that is all that is needed to say about McCain and his actions yesterday. It's obvious he's playing politics by suspending his campaign (so we didn't need to say any more). With regards to the debate I think my Mom hit the nail square on the head by saying, “Coward.”
Actually, I'll be on the road tomorrow and that gives us 26 hours before the scheduled start of the debate. As for my comment about Dean-o (Biden), the media have been awfully, awfully quiet about his many gaffes. It cannot be accidental.
Admittedly Obama might want to take the risk of a Biden gaffe if Biden still comes across as better than Palin, but Obama still would do better for himself to direct the attention toward him (especially if he thinks he can outdo McCain or at least enjoy more exposure and attention — he _is_ this year's American Idol candidate, after all).
25 hours, 55 minutes to go — time for me to hit the road (hey, you bailout engineers, where is our one-dollar gasoline?). Let's see if McCain and Obama put their jets to work running out of National XXXXXXXX RONALD REAGAN Washington National Airport (Hillary Clinton XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Barack Obama Global Transportation Center) in the next half day or so.
By Election Day, I'll probably only be watching the Cartoon Network. And thinking they show nothing but documentaries.