mccain begs off

The candidate who wants to quash any suspicion that he is not quick enough, not vigorous enough, or not multi-tasking enough to handle a job that poses a new challenge every minute, is essentially asking for everyone to take things a little slower so he can concentrate?

ALL OF THIS SOUNDS KIND OF FAMILIAR.... If the scuttlebutt is right, policy makers are about this close to striking some kind of bailout deal, making John McCain's latest round of inexplicable tactics entirely unnecessary. But McCain apparently wants to come riding onto Capitol Hill -- probably on a white horse, if he can find one -- where he can take credit for a package he had nothing to do with.

And if all of this sounds kind of familiar, it's because we saw a very similar situation about a year ago.

Quote:

During a meeting [in May 2007] on immigration legislation, McCain and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) got into a shouting match when Cornyn started voicing concerns about the number of judicial appeals that illegal immigrants could receive, according to multiple sources -- both Democrats and Republicans -- who heard firsthand accounts of the exchange from lawmakers who were in the room.

At a bipartisan gathering in an ornate meeting room just off the Senate floor, McCain complained that Cornyn was raising petty objections to a compromise plan being worked out between Senate Republicans and Democrats and the White House. He used a curse word associated with chickens and accused Cornyn of raising the issue just to torpedo a deal.

Things got really heated when Cornyn accused McCain of being too busy campaigning for president to take part in the negotiations, which have gone on for months behind closed doors. "Wait a second here," Cornyn said to McCain. "I've been sitting in here for all of these negotiations and you just parachute in here on the last day. You're out of line."

McCain, a former Navy pilot, then used language more accustomed to sailors.... "[Expletive] you! I know more about this than anyone else in the room," shouted McCain at Cornyn.

So, lawmakers and administration officials negotiated behind closed doors for quite a while, trying to hammer out a deal. McCain, on the campaign trail, was detached and uninvolved. In the 11th hour, McCain swoops in, hoping to take credit for work he didn't do, and when challenged, Senator Hothead erupted, demanding deference.

Soon after, a deal was announced, McCain smiled for the cameras as if he'd been integral to the process, and then left to go back to the campaign trail, not sticking around long enough to help the compromise package become law.

He may be lacking in temperament, character, and honesty, but at least McCain has a consistent m.o.

Why does it have to be either/ or?

Why can't Obama and McCain do all they can to help solve this crisis... and then hold a debate at 9:00 PM EST on a Friday night? (And then go back to solving the crisis when they're done debating?)

I know this may be an unusual thought in today's supercharged partisanship, but look at it from the perspective of the fact that they both currently HAVE JOBS. They are both senators. Are those opposed to the idea of postponing the debate a few DAYS taking into account that during a true crisis, maybe they should be doing the jobs they have been CURRENTLY elected to? Would you then say that perhaps Illinois and Arizona should only have 1 senator in Congess dealing with the crisis? They have been on the road and campaigning for 18+ months, and how much of their state's business have they been doing in that time? Now, when we have a crisis that could cost many people jobs, homes, savings, etc., they SHOULD be more concerned with doing their jobs instead of continuing to interview for a new position!
I wonder if those same people will be the ones that will be helping to pay for the $700 billion dollars (if not more) that may get shoved down ALL our throats unless we have a real debate on the issue. The figure I have heard is $2300. That's the average amount each family will be on the hook for in this deal.
If I were in either of their states, I'd be DEMANDING they get their butts back into the capital and DEAL with this situation. Kissing babies and spinning half-truths can wait a few damn days.
I say DO YOUR DAMN JOB. NOBODY ELECTED YOU TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

A community waits, hopes

OXFORD, Miss. -- The atmosphere on the Ole Miss campus is one of enthusiasm -- and a bit of anxiety -- for a debate a state has hoped and planned for for a year and a half, since the school applied to have it.

Republican Gov. Haley Barbour today called for the debate to go on. The state newspaper was filled with editorials and op-eds urging McCain to show up.

The Republican nominee may have thrown a wrench into the plans, but in the debate hall here, workers are drilling the final screws into the debate set; lights are being checked; podiums are being measured; the last of the set's panels are being put up and wires being weaved. Outside, security checkpoints are in place, network TV camera stands are built and set. (And never mind those hotel reservations and flight plans.)

"The debate will go on," University of Mississippi Vice Chancellor Gloria Kellum told NBC's local affiliate, adding, "We've spent two years working on this."

WASHINGTON " No one said it would be easy.

Despite unprecedented calls for quick action, the White House's $700 billion plan to rescue the financial industry appeared to fall apart late Thursday, less than 12 hours after a market-soothing deal seemed likely. A convergence of financial concerns, presidential politics and partisan rancor created an unexpected Washington drama with the nation's economic future hanging in the balance.

House Financial Services Committee Barney Frank, D-Mass., accused House Republicans of refusing to negotiate in good faith and told President Bush "to go to work" to find GOP votes needed to pass the plan. At one point Thursday, a somber Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson kneeled before Democrats at the White House while urging them not to publicly criticize Republicans " and risk sending the financial markets plunging. Meanwhile, Republican presidential nominee John McCain issued a statement acknowledging that a bipartisan White House meeting he appeared to have sought to help showcase his leadership skills on the economy had devolved into a "contentious shouting match."

Financial markets had shot up midday Thursday when leading lawmakers from both parties announced they had reached an agreement in principle after nearly a week of talks on the Bush administration's plan aimed at restoring chaotic financial markets and easing an escalating credit crunch.

But the good feelings seemed to evaporate about the time a new player entered the fray: McCain, who a day earlier had dramatically announced he was suspending his presidential campaign to return to Washington to help end the financial crisis. Conservative House Republicans distanced themselves from the bipartisan agreement and promoted an alternative they said would put taxpayers' money at less risk.

If McCain fails to show up, officials are mulling turning the first presidential debate into a town hall meeting where the Democratic presidential candidate takes questions from the audience and from the debate moderator PBS's Jim Lehrer.

McCain campaign officials tell ABC News that they have made no decisions yet on whether the Republican presidential candidate will be there.

Asked about the possibility of Obama holding a town hall meeting, McCain campaign aides said flippantly, "Sounds kind of interesting."

McCain had originally challenged Obama to a series of town hall meetings but negotiations between the candidates fell apart.

When he suspended his campaign on Wednesday to return to Washington to work on the bailout plan, McCain called for the debate to be pushed back to Oct. 2, the scheduled date of the vice -presidential debate.

But with the administration's proposed $700 billion bailout of Wall Street in limbo and it isn't clear now what McCain's next move will be.

Obama has said he will be in Mississippi tonight, arguing the country needs to hear from the two men who will inherit the nation's troubled economy in 39 days.

McCain has argued the nation needs Congress to arrive at a compromise.

Democrats are criticizing McCain for inserting himself into the delicate bailout negotiations on Capitol Hill, arguing they were on track to have a plan before he arrived in Washington.

One thing is certain: there will certainly not be a vote on the bailout deal today.

Negotiators will meet today around 11 a.m. to discuss the framework of an agreement among Senate Democrats, House Democrats, the Bush administration, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, and several Senate Republicans, except Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., who has been vocal in his criticism of the administration's bailout plan.

However House Republicans have proposed a separate plan.

The big question is whether McCain, President Bush, or Paulson. can find a way to bring House Republicans back into the agreement.

With no votes today in Congress on the bailout, the planned presidential debate is in limbo as well.

All eyes are now on McCain today as he decides whether he will debate Obama in Mississippi tonight.