Forbidden Donut

So, you agree that it was a good political move by the McCain team. I think Obama's response made him sound better for pushing the debates.

I don't really think what he did was awful. For one, doing crazy-ass shit like this isn't really out of character for McCain. Regardless of whether this was a sincere attempt to help with the problem (he is a senator, afterall) or simply a grab for attention in his presidential run, I think it was a smart move.

I don't really see why Obama wouldn't follow suit. The last thing in the world that Obama wants is to have such significant legislation pushed through congress by Monday that he wasn't present to debate and vote on.

I would have much rather had a debate, but that's entirely for selfish reasons.

Meh, the usefulness of McCain's presence will be known by Friday I suppose. If he manages to actually ... you know... reform the bill, then he'll get an opinion boost from me and millions of other Americans. Otherwise he's just trying to gain the appearance of strength on the economy, which has been a ball that sat primarily in Obama's court this whole GE.

I think Obama's thinking must be:
If I go to Washington and end up just voting for this bill without being able to make it what it needs to be, the McCain camp is going to crucify me in a month on supporting the shitty bailout that nobody wanted. If I don't all he can do is call me a doo-doo head for not playing the game by his rules. I expect an ad in a while that says:
"When it mattered most, when our economy was in dire straits, when America was crying out for help... Barack Obama wasn't there. He chose holding a debate with himself over saving our failing economy. Barack Obama wasn't there when we needed him most. And he won't be there for us in the future."
'I'm John McCain and I approved this message.'

Over:
"$700 billion dollars. A government bailing out failing banks and companies. A government buying up the debt of its people. When our country needed most to exercise financial deference and cool-headed decision making, Barack Obama swooped into Washington to help pass the largest socialist initiative this country has ever experienced. Barack Obama, putting your children into debt before they're even born."
'I'm John McCain and I approved this message.'

/I'm still waiting to see if by "Suspend my campaign." he means, "Ads only, no debates." Though he's said he's stopping all ads, I somehow expect him to act all butt-hurt when he finds out Obama kept running his.

McCain camp announced he'll be at the debate tonight!
I expect an intelligent and candid conversation between the two candidates, mediated by a respected journalist who has no horse in the race.

Pshh... McCain already won the debate. I don't know why this is an issue.

Aren't presidents supposed to be able to multi task?

Saw that wapo thing too. Classic. And no Tommy. Under no circumstances is it even remotely imaginable that as President, John McCain would be expected to initiate and mediate conversations regarding a national crisis, then fly elsewhere to meet with foreign dignitaries. Completely inconceivable.

/Probably the only real point that could be pulled from his decision to pull out, since it remains true no matter what his real reasoning was.
//Irrelevant now that he's back on for the debate though.