Non-Partisan News -- Debates

[TheConfessor]

I just saw reports on two cable networks saying that McCain says he is suspending his campaign so he can go back to DC and work on the financial crisis, and he is suggesting that the debate not be held as planned on Friday.

[Bob Juch]

And you think that's not political?

[TheConfessor]

And you think that's not political?

I meant to say non-partisan. I changed it.

[Bob Juch]

And you think that's not political?

I meant to say non-partisan. I changed it.

I think it's partisan too. He realized his popularity is dropping due to the financial situation.

[TheConfessor]

And you think that's not political?

I meant to say non-partisan. I changed it.

I think it's partisan too. He realized his popularity is dropping due to the financial situation.

My post was scrupulously non-partisan. You are trying to spin it to make it partisan. I usually try to let people draw their own conclusions.

[Bob Juch]

I meant to say non-partisan. I changed it.

I think it's partisan too. He realized his popularity is dropping due to the financial situation.

My post was scrupulously non-partisan. You are trying to spin it to make it partisan. I usually try to let people draw their own conclusions.

Your post was non-partisan, McCain's announcement was not.

According to the source, McCain wants to create a "political free zone" until a deal is reached on legislation for a $700 billion bailout of the financial industry.

What if no deal is reached? Many Republicans are against a bailout, So am I.

[christie1111]

Hey Confessor?

Want to come over to the Lounge?

It was a bit cool up here in CT today, so I thought some warm chili would be a nice afternoon nibble.

We could debate the better chili. There are 3 to choose from!

[MarleysGh0st]

We could debate the better chili. There are 3 to choose from!

And difficult choices they are for me, too!

Not being Texan, I was never taught that "no beans" theory. Then again, turkey chili is a bit too non-traditional for me. I enjoy a good vegetarian chili, but I think the melting pot approach, with beef and beans, is still the best.

Oh, well, in the interest of non-partisanship, I'll have to try them all!

[danielh41]

I think it's partisan too. He realized his popularity is dropping due to the financial situation.

My post was scrupulously non-partisan. You are trying to spin it to make it partisan. I usually try to let people draw their own conclusions.

Your post was non-partisan, McCain's announcement was not.

According to the source, McCain wants to create a "political free zone" until a deal is reached on legislation for a $700 billion bailout of the financial industry.

What if no deal is reached? Many Republicans are against a bailout, So am I.

I don't beleive it. Bob Juch and I agree on something.

Beyond Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, I don't think the government should be bailing out anybody, be it the banks or the people who bought houses that they shouldn't have and are now facing foreclosure...

[mellytu74]

Bob Juch and I agree on something.

And I think I will catch one of the flying pigs and work up a nice crockpot pork tenderloin in the Moratorium Lounge.

Seriously, why can't they just hold the debate anyway and change the subject to the financial crisis?

Can't they multi-task? Go back to DC as soon as the debate's over.

They can talk about the crisis and the ramifications of too much debt on the country's ability to do others things -- like bolster public transportation in this (or any other) energy crisis or repair our infrastructure (and remember that one Congressman's pork project is another Congressman's much-needed public works project and job creation).

OK. I am going back to the Lounge.

[nitrah55]

My post was scrupulously non-partisan. You are trying to spin it to make it partisan. I usually try to let people draw their own conclusions.

Your post was non-partisan, McCain's announcement was not.

According to the source, McCain wants to create a "political free zone" until a deal is reached on legislation for a $700 billion bailout of the financial industry.

What if no deal is reached? Many Republicans are against a bailout, So am I.

I don't beleive it. Bob Juch and I agree on something.

Ok, break out the guitars!

"Kum by yah, my Lord, kum by yah..."

[SportsFan68]

Bob Juch and I agree on something.

And I think I will catch one of the flying pigs and work up a nice crockpot pork tenderloin in the Moratorium Lounge.

Seriously, why can't they just hold the debate anyway and change the subject to the financial crisis?

. . .

I think it was posted here yesterday that both campaigns wanted the first debate changed from economics to international relations, and I supported that. So if they both want to postpone, I'll have to go along with it, but I won't want to. We've already chipped in "for the use of the hall" for a debate watch party Friday night. So because I'm inconvenienced, it should go the way I want . . .

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain said on Wednesday he will break off from campaigning to help on a Wall Street rescue plan and asked that a Friday debate with Democrat Barack Obama be postponed.

McCain, in a statement to reporters, said he would suspend his campaign on Thursday to return to Washington.

He added he did not believe the Bush administration's proposed legislation on a $700 billion bailout plan for the financial industry would pass the U.S. Congress in its current form.

McCain, an Arizona senator, called on Obama to join him in working together on a plan and said he had spoken to the Democrat about doing so. He said a consensus agreement on a bailout plan is needed by the time the financial markets open on Monday.

Obama, an Illinois senator, planned to make a statement on the issue shortly.

"It's time for both parties to come together to solve this problem," McCain said. "We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved."

The Bush administration is pushing the plan hard in Congress. The White House welcomed McCain's announcement.

[Bob Juch]

Obama's reply:

“This is exactly the time when the American people need to hear from the person who in approximately 40 days will be responsible for dealing with this mess.

“In my mind, it’s more important than ever that we present ourselves to the American people and describe where we want to take the country and where we want to take the economy.

“It’s going to be part of the president’s job to be able to deal with more than one thing at once.”

[TheConfessor]

Obama's reply:
“This is exactly the time when the American people need to hear from the person who in approximately 40 days will be responsible for dealing with this mess.

I'm disappointed to see that he has such weak math skills. It's actually 118 days until Inauguration Day.

[Weyoun]

And you think that's not political?

I meant to say non-partisan. I changed it.

I think it's partisan too. He realized his popularity is dropping due to the financial situation.

He's also a Senator, and there is a really big problem right now. It's "political" in the sense that we expect someone running for office to be competent.

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

And you think that's not political?

I meant to say non-partisan. I changed it.

I think it's partisan too. He realized his popularity is dropping due to the financial situation.

Maybe he just isn't a master debater.

[peacock2121]

I am more interested in how this gets resolved than in whether they actually have the debate tomorrow or next week.

Who is gonna blink?

[NellyLunatic1980]

Obama's reply:

“This is exactly the time when the American people need to hear from the person who in approximately 40 days will be responsible for dealing with this mess.

“In my mind, it’s more important than ever that we present ourselves to the American people and describe where we want to take the country and where we want to take the economy.

“It’s going to be part of the president’s job to be able to deal with more than one thing at once.”

Remember during the primaries when Republicans and Clinton supporters claimed that Obama is incapable of walking and chewing gum at the same time? Now it appears that McCain is the one incapable of walking and chewing gum at the same time.

David Letterman, who usually doesn't take sides in politics, was furious:

"You don't suspend your campaign. This doesn't smell right. This isn't the way a tested hero behaves... He can't run the campaign because the economy is cratering? Fine, put in your second string quarterback, Sarah Palin. Where is she?... What are you going to do if you're elected and things get tough? Suspend being president? We've got a guy like that now!"

SurveyUSA conducted three polls all day yesterday on the debate and the campaigns:

The first debate between John McCain and Barack Obama is scheduled to take place [Friday]. Should the debate be held as scheduled [on foreign policy]? Should the debate be held, but the format changed to focus on the economy? Or should the debate be postponed?

Hold the debate as scheduled - 50%
Hold a debate on economy - 36%
Postpone the debate - 10%

Is the right response to the turmoil on Wall Street to suspend the campaigns for president? To continue the campaigns as though there is no crisis? [Editorial note: The wording of that question seems a little hinky.] Or to re-focus the campaigns with a unique emphasis on the turmoil on Wall Street?

Re-focus the campaigns - 48%
Continue the campaigns - 31%
Suspend the campaigns - 14%

If Friday's presidential debate does not take place, would that be good for America? Bad for America? Or would it make no difference?

Bad for America - 46%
No difference - 35%
Good for America - 14%

Between one-third and one-half of Americans want presidential politics focused on the economy... and 80% say that (in one form or another) the show must go on.

I agree with Melly and the other 36% of Americans: Tomorrow night's debate has to be focused solely on the economy. That'll kill two birds with one stone. They can have the foreign policy presidential debate last instead of first.

[Bob Juch]

I am more interested in how this gets resolved than in whether they actually have the debate tomorrow or next week.

Who is gonna blink?

Who says it's the government's problem to solve?

[peacock2121]

I am more interested in how this gets resolved than in whether they actually have the debate tomorrow or next week.

Who is gonna blink?

Who says it's the government's problem to solve?

I was not talking about the government solving anything. I was talking about the debate happening or not and how that gets resolved.

Your question seemed presumptive and accusatory and also a little bit not like a question at all.

[Bob Juch]

I am more interested in how this gets resolved than in whether they actually have the debate tomorrow or next week.

Who is gonna blink?

Who says it's the government's problem to solve?

I was not talking about the government solving anything. I was talking about the debate happening or not and how that gets resolved.

Your question seemed presumptive and accusatory and also a little bit not like a question at all.

If Obama shows up and McCain doesn't, he's going to look like an ass.

Yes, that was not a question.

[peacock2121]

Who says it's the government's problem to solve?

I was not talking about the government solving anything. I was talking about the debate happening or not and how that gets resolved.

Your question seemed presumptive and accusatory and also a little bit not like a question at all.

If Obama shows up and McCain doesn't, he's going to look like an ass.

Yes, that was not a question.

How each candidate ends up looking after how it gets resolved is what I am interested in.

If you aren't asking a question, I suggest you avoid this punctuation - ? .

[ToLiveIsToFly]

Who says it's the government's problem to solve?

I was not talking about the government solving anything. I was talking about the debate happening or not and how that gets resolved.

Your question seemed presumptive and accusatory and also a little bit not like a question at all.

If Obama shows up and McCain doesn't, he's going to look like an ass.

Yes, that was not a question.

Yes, HE will look like an ass. I suspect which "he" will be open to the interpretation of the veiwer.

But boy did Letterman tear McCain a new one last night.

[Estonut]

David Letterman, who usually doesn't take sides in politics, was furious:

But boy did Letterman tear McCain a new one last night.

I guess neither of you has watched much Dave before. Had he been "furious," he wouldn't have brought it up at all. He joked all the way through it. He's had bigger diatribes about bad sandwiches and cab rides/drivers. That's just Dave being Dave.

More than anything, he was disappointed about the last-minute cancellation. He then brought it up again when he found out that McCain was interviewed on the CBS news, but couldn't make Dave's show. Dave felt that Palin should have stepped up and started making campaign appearances in McCain's stead while he is back in DC. As if Obama would ever let Biden do the same, especially after some of the comments Biden made this week.