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ABC News has learned that President Bush called Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., this evening and invited him to participate in a meeting about the Wall Street bailout bill tomorrow afternoon in Washington, DC, with other congressional leaders, including Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.Via Michelle Malkin.
Obama accepted the president’s invitation, a source tells ABC News.
This is insane:Republican John McCain says he's directing his staff to work with Barack Obama's campaign and the debate commission to delay Friday's debate because of the economic crisis.Now you know why I call him Crazy Cousin John.
In a statement, McCain says he will stop campaigning after addressing former President Bill Clinton's Global Initiative session on Thursday and return to Washington to focus on the nation's financial problems.
UPDATE: Michelle's got a poll, but this "latest bizarre move in a really erratic week" (to quote Philip Klein) has sure made me happy I called dibs on the franchise for those "Don't Blame Me, I Voted for Bob Barr" T-shirts.
UPDATE II: Obama says no to canceling the debate. I'm checking the reaction at Hot Air and Ace and seeing some are spinning this as a call-Obama's-bluff move. But the MSM will spin it as "REPUBLICAN DESPERATION MOVE," and I can't see the benefit, either in terms of policy or politics. And since Maverick is pro-bailout -- which is the un-conservative position -- there's no way this move serves to rally the base against the Democrats.
So, what's the idea? Two options:
- McCain sincerely (and wrongly) believes the bailout is a necessary measure; or
- Steve Schmidt suspects Team Obama will inevitably blunder when presented with a real curveball, just as the Sarah Palin pick threw Team Obama off-stride for two weeks.
It's a stunt, and I'm having a hard time seeing how it works to the GOP's advantage, but maybe I'm reading this all wrong.
Yikes!
ReplyDeleteThis guy is so desperate. What's going on here?
The debate is only 90 minutes long, why cancel it altogether? Can't he multi-task?
Talk about political theater.
Just dumb. He looks weak....
This is a OODA Loop thing again, like the Palin pick.
ReplyDeleteTo get inside Obama's head and get him off balance.
McCain can be more agile, because he desn't have to clear thoughts with Axlerod.
"And since Maverick is pro-bailout -- which is the un-conservative position -- there's no way this move serves to rally the base against the Democrats."
ReplyDeleteYou're right.
Makes me think that this whole bailout ploy is a way for Cons to avoid ownership of a recession on their watch, which helps McLame and the Republican brand.The whole thing stinks...
If McCain can push for some free-market reforms and get some distance between himself and Bush, then Obama is left holding the bailout bag.
ReplyDeleteMight work.
@Y4E
ReplyDelete>Makes me think that this whole bailout ploy is a way for Cons to avoid ownership of a recession on their watch, which helps McLame and the Republican brand.The whole thing stinks...
See, I'm guessing that, if the Surge had failed, the Left would pillory the Right on Iraq.
Failing that, the economy had to be tanked. This time bomb's been ticking for years, but we must question the timing.
You figure Senator Clinton reads these tea leaves, understands that it's scorched earth time, and arranges to throw Senator Obama under the bus. She then has someone else eating the 'crow' pile for four years, and can come back looking tanned and refreshed.
You like my 20/20 hindsight, don't you?
As for the time-out call, you have to figure Senator McCain doesn't want to be called inattentive to the current crisis. As a USNA grad, one would expect him to cleave closely to the "no lying, cheating, or stealing" concept, all of which have surely occurred on Wall Street.
But read Fabius Maximus: I'm not sure that the slow, slack-jawed socialist slide stands stoppable.
I agree with you, it's a bad move. Glad to see you and The Anchoress agree with that: I was feeling pretty alone considering everyone else seemed to think it was a smart move. Inside Obama's OODA loop?? Not this time.
ReplyDeleteMcCain Campaign should call up Bob Barr, and say, hey, Obama says he still wants to debate... Show up and see if he'll let you in.
ReplyDeleteThat would really throw Obama off, and make him look like a fool when he refuses to debate a former 4-term US Congressman.
McCain has the conservatives locked up thanks to Palin. What he needs to worry about are the moderates and this is designed to get their attention. This is the McCain of old, "Nation First" etc. etc.
ReplyDelete