Not mentioned much in today's McCain "Return to DC" - He's not on the Senate Finance Committee.

[pinto]

Nor are Sen's Obama or Biden.

I would assume the initial Senate response to the Wall Street bailout plan is being crafted by these Senators. No?

A two day photo-op junket by Senator McCain would seem pointless, in that these folks have been working with - and have actually read - the Administration's proposals.

If he really wants to lobby fellow Republicans, his time may be better spent in reading the proposed actions, the Senate Committee's work to date and making some phone calls. Some staffer could walk him through a conference call set up, I'm sure.



Democrats

MAX BAUCUS, MT
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, WV
TOM DASCHLE, SD
JOHN BREAUX, LA
KENT CONRAD, ND
BOB GRAHAM, FL
JAMES M. JEFFORDS, VT
JEFF BINGAMAN, NM
JOHN F. KERRY, MA
ROBERT G. TORRICELLI, NJ
BLANCHE L. LINCOLN, AR

Republicans

CHARLES E. GRASSLEY, IA
ORRIN G. HATCH, UT
FRANK H. MURKOWSKI, AK
DON NICKLES, OK
PHIL GRAMM, TX
TRENT LOTT, MS
FRED THOMPSON, TN
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, ME
JON KYL, AZ
CRAIG THOMAS, WY

Either McCain is playing grandstand politics with the economic situation, dodging the debates for whatever reason, or both.

[karynnj]

1. And the Banking Committee as well - which I think is even more involved.

I don't think Biden, Obama or McCain are on either of them.

[pinto]

5. Good point. None are. That is Dodd's committee. Shelby is the minority ranking member.

http://banking.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Information.Membership

[BlooInBloo]

2. As was said on Maddow, Bush SAVED McSuperhero's ASS, by giving him *something*...

to do while in DC.

:rofl:

[BlueIdaho]

3. Trent Lott? Phil Gramm? Fred Thompson?

Where the hell did you get this list?

[pinto]

17. Sorry, I cut and pasted from an old link. Knucklehead oversight. The update is below.

[ladjf]

4. McCain ,who is descended from a long line of plantation owners,

has the "plantation mentality". He thinks he is going up to Washington, butt in on the committee
proceedings and simply take charge as the the American Government is his private plantation, complete with slave politicians. Man,that guy is "out of it".

Not matter. There will be lots of Republicans who will buy the phony theatrics. America is in bad need of some enlightenment among its people. (You know, the need for enlightenment could be taken care by 50 years of quality education.)

[Toucano]

6. Something about this stinks to high heaven.

Let's take it as a given that going to Washington and canceling campaign appearances is grandstanding.

Why would you pull all your ads?

It is illogical.


WAIT FOR THE SPIN:

Obama continues to campaign while REAL AMERICANS suffer. Obviously he is only interested in winning the presidency, not in the REAL PROBLEMS of REAL AMERICANS.

[pinto]

7. I don't think folks will buy this ploy. As hard as it may get touted by the Repubs. One thing, tho'

it crossed my mind that the McCain campaign may think a deal will be struck Friday afternoon by the Senate and McCain in DC will lend some credence by proximity to his campaign's thin economic credentials.

A long shot, and I'm probably over thinking the whole ploy. I think it's just grandstanding.

[Toucano]

9. Yeah. "And Obama wasn't even there!"

I don't think you're over thinking.

It's too weird.

[FarCenter]

8. McCain is on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

http://mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=IssuesLegislation.CommitteeAssignments

Senator John McCain is Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services; Ranking Member and former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and Member and former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

...

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation is composed of 22 Senators and derives its jurisdiction from the Standing Rules of the Senate. It has 7 Subcommittees, which together oversee for the vast range of issues under its jurisdiction. These issues range from communications, highways, aviation, rail, shipping, transportation security, merchant marine, the Coast Guard, oceans, fisheries, climate change, disasters, science, space, interstate commerce, tourism, consumer issues, economic development, technology, competitiveness, product safety and insurance.

Senator McCain served as Chairman of the Committee from 1997 to 2001 and 2003 to 2005. He is currently the Ranking Member.

..

This last bit appears to be BULLSHIT.

If you look at http://commerce.senate.gov/public/ the Commerce committee page says that Kay Bailey Hutchison is the Ranking Memeber.

[pinto]

10. Ha. Good catch.

[FarCenter]

11. Note that Commerce has jurisdiction over "disasters"

i.e. the entire Bush Adminstration.

[AlCzervik]

12. Pinto, he didn't even read the bailout---all three pages of it. Theater of the absurd.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7169305&mesg_id=7169305

[pinto]

14. LOL. I was just looking for your thread and the article cited to note here -

The sadly salient point -

In an exclusive interview he told Tom Beres, "I have not had a chance to see it in writing. I have to examine it."

http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/news_article.aspx?storyid=97180&catid=45

:kick:

[Lithos]

13. Your list is old

Many of those senators are now ex-senators.

[pinto]

15. Duh. I took the list from the Committee's website w/out checking. I'll update.

[pinto]

16. Sorry all. This looks to be the current Sen Finance committee membership:

Democrats

MAX BAUCUS, MT
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, WV
KENT CONRAD, ND
JEFF BINGAMAN, NM
JOHN F. KERRY, MA
BLANCHE L. LINCOLN, AR
RON WYDEN, OR
CHARLES E. SCHUMER, NY
DEBBIE STABENOW, MI
MARIA CANTWELL, WA
KEN SALAZAR, CO

Republicans

CHUCK GRASSLEY, IA
ORRIN G. HATCH, UT
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, ME
JON KYL, AZ
GORDON SMITH, OR
JIM BUNNING, KY
MIKE CRAPO, ID
PAT ROBERTS, KS
JOHN ENSIGN, NV
JOHN E. SUNUNU, NH

(Dumb cut and paste on pinto's part from an outdated link. That said, my point remains the same.)