Dems call McCain's move a 'stunt'; GOP welcomes return

[Nambe]

Source: CNN

Congressional Democrats Wednesday accused Sen. John McCain of potentially upsetting negotiations over a $700 billion bailout package by injecting presidential politics into the process, while Republicans welcomed his decision to return to Washington to participate in the talks.

Sen. John McCain called for both presidential candidates to participate in the bailout negotiations.

McCain, the Republican presidential nominee, also called for a presidential debate scheduled for Friday night to be cancelled so both he and his Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama, can return to Washington to focus on the bailout package.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said in a statement that the candidates' presence could be a distraction during the delicate talks.

"If that changes, we will call upon them. We need leadership, not a campaign photo op," Reid said. Sources tell CNN that Reid read the statement to McCain when the two talked on the phone Wednesday. ...

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/24/congress.mccain.reaction/index.html

[Gillian]

1. McShame must be about to bow out.

He is acting like it.

[offog]

3. Bow out of what?

I assume you mean bowing out of the debate, 'cuz no way is McCain bowing out of the election. I've read comments saying that he's afraid Obama will kick his ass in a debate. There could be something to that. I've been watching video clips of Obama speaking, and he sure sounds more "presidential" than McCain does.

[unkachuck]

2. what's the matter?

"...called for a presidential debate scheduled for Friday night to be cancelled..."

....johnny, are you chicken?....afraid to debate Obama?

....Washington doesn't need your sorry old ass....Regulating is IN, De-regulating is OUT....

[Buenaventura]

5. McNugget

[silverojo]

7. Mr. bigshot POW afraid of a teensy little debate?

Call it tinfoil hat thinking, but I have a great deal of difficulty believing that McChicken POW tale. How could you endure all that for so many years, then try to chicken out of a debate?

I'm not suggesting Swiftboating the guy, just that it's really hard for me to believe he ever had balls.

[Alcibiades]

4. In the event of a crisis, McCain cancels debate

So, if there's a crisis, will he cancel our democracy? "Oh, what's going on on Wall Street is so important, I guess I don't have time to engage in the actual practice of democracy." This isn't about transcending politics, it's all about politics. I guess if I were a Keating five figure and running for president in the midst of an economic meltdown very similar to the S&L crisis, I wouldn't want to debate Obama either.

After eight years of a president who cannot walk and chew gum at the same time, we now have a man who cannot manage to do a 2 hour debate in the evening while serving in the Senate in the morning--where he hasn't appeared for several months anyway. I suppose that if 26 years in the Senate have not prepared him to debate Obama, he'll never be ready.

[mac56]

6. What, the senile old bastich can't multitask?!

A President who can't focus on more than one thing at one time? That's goddamn frightening.

Of course it'll be spun as his "laser-like intensity" and "ability to prioritize" and "singleness of purpose" and "moving beyond partisanism to do what's right for Amurika."

God help us all.

[Gillian]

8. Why is McCain considered a hero?

He screwed up. He got shot down. JFK risked his life to save his fellow soldiers. Not that many pilots got shot down and the ones that did aren´t running around calling themselves heroes.

His behavior after the war is not very consistent with what I call a hero.

[tclambert]

9. McCain = bailout

Imminent financial collapse - McCain: "Bailout!"
Imminent presidential debate - McCain: "Bail out!"

[niceypoo]

10. For a week, McCain did nothing....

...then suddenly, as the debate date approaches, he feels a sense of, 'urgency,' to take action.

His reaction to everything is to suspend this or that. WHat a chickenshit.