Debate #1

[RIROCKHOUND]

What do you guys think?
Carry on with it?

I tend to say Game on. I want to hear answers now, and during whats going on, not later...

[The Dad Fisherman]

I'm pretty sure as president they will need to learn the skill of Multi-tasking under pressure.

[RIJIMMY]

I agree
Carry on.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Anyone actually believe McCain?
I think he saw a gap in the polls after this situation started to develop and wants to save some face and regroup... Not that I think BO did that much on the economy, he is faring a lot better...

game on

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

Anyone actually believe McCain?
I think he saw a gap in the polls after this situation started to develop and wants to save some face and regroup... Not that I think BO did that much on the economy, he is faring a lot better...

game on

bingo

[JohnR]

I think it was interesting that McCain did this. I also think that they are senators first and if the situation requires going back to DC they should do it. Political play? Yeh probably, based on necessity? Yeh Probably that too

Debate is on Foreign Policy which is of a lower priority at this immediate time than a debate on the Economy which is far lower a priority than whats happening TO the economy.

I was shocked at how Obama fumbled his responses during the press conference. The same fumbling he did in a senate hearing with Gen Petraeus SIGNIFICANTLY lowered my opinion of him in the spring.

We have one sitting president that can't communicate on his feet worth a bleep, if Obama gets in we might have a second in a row.

(still haven't made up mind, still leaning McCain)

[spence]

I can't find a reason why McCain would think he can help in the process, unless it's to help convince the dissenting Republicans to get on board. There's more GOP opposition to this bill than Dem from the looks of it.

Wasn't there a Presidential election during the Civil War?

Sounds like McCain is putting the campaign and not country first.

-spence

[Nebe]

oh wait.. he is a maverick. thats right.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by spence

I can't find a reason why McCain would think he can help in the process, unless it's to help convince the dissenting Republicans to get on board. There's more GOP opposition to this bill than Dem from the looks of it.

Wasn't there a Presidential election during the Civil War?

Sounds like McCain is putting the campaign and not country first.

-spence

Then perhaps McCain, as a senior Republican Senator, known for reaching across the aisle AND even going against the "R" grain, perhaps he CAN facilitate this in some fashion.

Sounds to me McCain is putting the Country first and not the Campaign. And this is not a first for McCain. I don't always agree with what he does but Duty, Honor, Country have FAR more weight with him than just about ANY of the other blowhards in a 50 mile radius of the Washington Mall

Bottom line it needs to get done. I think we are better off with the R word than the D word (and I'm not talkin' Repub -v- Demo)..

Of Course, if Obama is needed, they'll just call him or something.

[Bronko]

Originally Posted by spence

I can't find a reason why McCain would think he can help in the process, unless it's to help convince the dissenting Republicans to get on board. There's more GOP opposition to this bill than Dem from the looks of it.

Wasn't there a Presidential election during the Civil War?

Sounds like McCain is putting the campaign and not country first.

-spence

It appears to be a perfect example of the "leadership" the left has been clamoring about. Obama fell right in line behind McCain and is being led to Washington to try to straighten this mess out.

[Swimmer]

This is a practical test. See how each one applies themselves to the problem and go from there. Just the same as campaigning.

[slapshot]

Obama would probably just vote "present" anyway...

[buckman]

They will have the debate and the bill will either be signed off on tomorrow or all but a done deal. I don't care who side you take on this one,all I know is it's the single most important bill that either side have put together in a long time and they seem to be hashing it out just fine. I think McCain knows how important it is going to be in the next four years and he feels more comfortable being in Washington. Obama's now the great multi-tasker and he's ok fund raising and working on the bill.

[Joe]

Debates are scripted - the only thing the candidate does not know is the order of the questions.
The handlers prep them with answers and talking points on all the major issues - the level of sophistication of both campaigns is such that they are able to determine most all the questions in advance.
But.....the situation this week with respect to the economy is still very fluid - both candidates will have to be able to think on their feet. What we'll find out is which candidate is the quickest economics study.

[spence]

Originally Posted by buckman

They will have the debate and the bill will either be signed off on tomorrow or all but a done deal. I don't care who side you take on this one,all I know is it's the single most important bill that either side have put together in a long time and they seem to be hashing it out just fine. I think McCain knows how important it is going to be in the next four years and he feels more comfortable being in Washington. Obama's now the great multi-tasker and he's ok fund raising and working on the bill.

Wow, this is the most rational post I think you've ever made

I don't think McCain is personally using this stunt for campaign gain, I think he does think he's doing the right thing.

That being said, I think his advisors are out to milk it for all it's worth. Given what they're making him say to please the base I wouldn't put anything past them.

-spence

[buckman]

Originally Posted by spence

Wow, this is the most rational post I think you've ever made

I don't think McCain is personally using this stunt for campaign gain, I think he does think he's doing the right thing.

That being said, I think his advisors are out to milk it for all it's worth. Given what they're making him say to please the base I wouldn't put anything past them.

-spence

Thanks Spence, I live for your approval

I think if they can some how get Wall Street to pay for this, that would be very agreeable to the Dems. It's an idea I had not heard about from anyone until yesterday. If that is the way it goes down, Obama is screwed and McCain will go to the debate as the one who got it done. And not on the taxpayers dime.

[sokinwet]

I guess what really bothers me about this is that there seemed to be an agreement on the need and the direction of the bailout plan between dem's, the pres. and repub's. Now suddenly the %$%$%$%$ has hit the fan because a new totally different plan is being proposed by the repub. house....and it appears that McCain is involved in this last minute break from the pres. and senior repub's. Call me a cynic but the urgency in getting a plan passed that he spouted when suspending his operations and the debate seems to now be surplanted by a little politics. I can see the spin now...John McCain saves the US from economic collapse

[sokinwet]

Judging from comments on last nights news it appears that both sides of the aisle are stating that the presence of McCain & Obama is detrimental to the debate on the economic turmoil as it immediately infuses politics into what had been rational across the aisle cooperation.

[Mike P]

This is the hard core right wing of House Republicans. They don't give a rat's ass about McCain. To them, he's always been a "RINO" and a closet liberal. They'd rather see an Obama win, pray that he flops, and get one of their true believers in there in 2012.

Palin at #2 wasn't enough of a sop to them.

[RIJIMMY]

thank you house repbulicans for putting the brakes on a rushed deal.

[EarnedStripes44]

i know this a little off topic? Anybody see the Sarry Palin/ Katie Couric interview?

I think Palin is a little short on intellectual horsepower. I need to know if John McCain can hold on for the next 4 years because Palin at the #1 spot is concerning. If Obama is bad off the cuff, Palin is just plain sleeveless.

[sokinwet]

Anyone who didn't see the interview should read the text....then tell me this woman is fit for the VP job.

[The Dad Fisherman]

Got a link?

[Joe]

Painful performance for Palin...fortunantly, the news cycle is busy. She still looks good though.

[EarnedStripes44]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/...n4479062.shtml

[EarnedStripes44]

i dont think thats all of it. They are airing more of the interview tonight, so some has not been released yet.

[slapshot]

Nobama is no better, he says he has visited 57 states during his campaign. Is he including his stops on the European tour?

[RIJIMMY]

that was painful and her naition-building comments really tick me off.
I can care less if other countries are democratic. Thats why we have nuclear weapons. Sand, rock and ash are no threat to our way of life. I dont want kids dying to bring democracy to people that wont fight for it themselves.

[RIROCKHOUND]

I thought she was your new messiah :-P

Debate is back on.
Game on tonight.

[RIJIMMY]

This guy is usually a lefty looney
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/...ain/index.html