The Rick Davis Scandal Thesis (i.e. why Mccain is REALLY shutting the campaign down)

[Essene]

As im sure most folks here are aware, Mccain was just talking emphatically a few days ago about how his campaign manager had absolutely no ties to Fannie Mac. Then yesterday, news broke that his lobbying firm was still taking $15000 a month from Fannie Mac.

The Mccain camp quickly reacted and deflected those criticisms by arguing that Davis wasn't receiving any money, and thus implying there was no conflict of interest. However, anybody who has watched Mccain with a little objectivity over the years knows this must have INFURIATED Mccain. His own campaign manager!! Mccain has already had 3 ultra-embarrassing cases where 3 co-chairs had to leave the campaign due to ties with lobbyists.

Think about what Mccain's morning must have been like, yesterday.

Line #1: White House wants him to fly into DC and be a part of a joint press event with Obama & Bush

Line #2: Mccain's staffers want to review more debate stuff for friday night

Line #3: Obama is calling, saying he wants to work on a joint-statement about the economy & bail out

Line #4: Rick Davis is calling to apologize, said he canceled lunch with reporters and wants to talk.

Line #5: Palin's people are calling to plan damage control around the Katie Curic interview.

Line #6: The Rove kids in his campaign have prepared some more smear ads and want his OK.

Line #7: Fox News just declared that Mccain has sunk overnight to 39% in the polls.



My theory is that Mccain flipped out and literally tried to just shut his campaign down.

He HAS to let Rick Davis go before the 2nd debate, folks. That story is not going away. Think about the implications of this, especially at the end of Sept and heading into debates during a once in a century economic crisis. If he keeps Davis, he risks everything. If he kicks Davis, he at least has a chance of rising from the ashes. History shows that Mccain kicks these people (he's removed 3 co-chairs already).

This is his campaign manager, the guy who runs day-to-day operations.

Now, consider all the wacky events since yesterday morning with this theory in mind. Time will tell, and i'm predicting that Rick Davis will either step down or step to the side in the coming days.

[jberryhill]

1. Line #8 - Dick Nixon from 1962 is calling - he wants his "fight the media" strategy back

Line #9 - Hanoi Hilton is calling - his HHonors account has expired.

[Essene]

2. Truth. However, he cannot deflect the fannie mac lobbying story...

The guy is an owner of a lobbying firm getting $15,000 a month in the midst of this crisis.

They can try to babble about how he's not getting a salary or dividends, but folks will NOT buy this explanation and given all the other stuff going on Mccain just cannot risk this story snow balling into the 2nd debate and beyond.

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

3. Rachel and Michael Isikoff dissected this story

a couple of nights ago. They agreed that the only thing worse than Davis getting big bux for actively lobbying for Fannie/Freddie was Davis getting the big bux for seemingly doing nothing as it looked much more like an open bribe for access to Grampy. This one is a ticking bomb. When it goes off, and it will, it will be spectacularly ugly.

[Essene]

6. yep & mccain has to be trying to get ahead of it... organizationally

he cant do anything about the topic itself, but he can proactively shift the perception of his campaign.

[Boz]

4. He pulled a Al Haig "Im in Control Here" Im going to save the day

The ego beat out the ID when it was overloaded, and the limbic response was "Im suspending my campaign"

[lame54]

5. This makes more sense...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4086078&mesg_id=4086078

[Essene]

7. They are happy to gain more time for the debates for many reasons

Mccain's dipping in polls with this economic stuff, and they'd be better able to get a bounce next week if that's when the debates start. Likewise, the longer they can hold off a disaster for the internal campaign drama then the better able Mccain will be come the 2nd debate on domestic policy.

[Supersedeas]

8. but another about the timing rings any bells with the Corp Free Ride Media

Kelly O' Donnell must be on the case

[Essene]

9. Rachel Maddow digs in... (video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fAN7f9-xnM

[Essene]

10. n/m doubel post

[Essene]

11. Katie Couric catches Sarah Palin on the conflict of interest...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbQwAFobQxQ

amazing.

the really long pause is breathtaking...

[Essene]

12. Olbermann's initial coverage... (video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPKaoTs1SmM