Debate tonight: Should they show for it

The debate should go on! Everybody is ready to see the face off between these two candidates. Here is where the gaming will really come into play. While the debate is supposed to be on foreign policy, I suspect much will be said about the cirsis on Wall Street.

http://www.boppolll.com
Great activity for the debate parties.

Have we forgotten that the Friday debate is on foreign policy, not the economy? Have the campaigns gone so long that we have actually forgotten that Biden, Obama, and McCain are US Senators still on payroll? We need to get this mess straightened out before Monday. The debate can wait a week. The financial markets can't.

I think getting our national finance in order is far more important than any debate

The present financial crisis is a symptom of poor Republican leadership. just as nausea and vomiting are symptoms of botulism. The debate needs to be held so that the American people can see past the symptoms and go to the root cause of the financial crisis, the war in Iraq, rapidly growing unemployment rates, falling American prestige worldwide and the growth of world wide terrorism. POOR LEADERSHIP FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!

I flew to New Jersey to close a sale yesterday morning and was back by 7:15 to tuck the kiddies in bed, why can't McPain show up for a 90 debate. If he can't multitask, he is not presidential material. This tactic is so "republican"

I believe they should NOT debate. Both of these men are currently elected Senators and need to be fulfilling their duties to the American people--listening to us, and creating a solution that benefits all of us.

What is McCain REALLY doing? Grandstanding?? Neither he nor Obama are on any of committies that can do anything about the current situation. McCain has said himself that he is clueless when it comes to economics. So what is he REALLY doing?
Running scared? Grandstanding?
Is he only capable of focusing on one thing at a time?
Very comforting!
Debate Obama Now!
Turn that monster intellect loose!

The debates are useless; they can't tell us what we need to know about the bail-out and as for the other things, anything they promise to do will have to go through a contentious Congress....

These guys chose to remain senators. They should do their jobs first.

McCain is literally making a fool of himself.

He has nothing special to contribute in Washington, no special expertise, and no one even asked for him to be there.

He is simply afraid of debating Obama.

Either that, or when he does show up at the last minute, he believes he will have manufactured something of an excuse for his poor performance - that is, he was too busy with the business of the nation to prepare.

His attaching himself yesterday to the minority alternative plan only muddied the waters. He not only contributed nothing, he blundered against the rapid progress that we need.

Obama was right on the mark when he said the presence of candidates only fogged things up.

Meantime McCain avoids revealing how inept he is and what little understanding he has.

I cannot imagine circumstances in which it is more important to hear from the candidates, to get a feeling for the understanding and competence of the person who is shortly to be president.

McCain is not funny, but Sarah Palin keeps us amused by continuing her line about knowing something about Russia just because it is the next country over the Bering Sea.

It is the argument of a twelve-year old.

This is better than a satiric political review: watching Palin struggle not to look the complete idiot that she so clearly is.

It's pretty obvious, what's going on, McCain is trying to halt or delay the VP debate to keep Palin from another "deer in the headlights" or "unprepared college student" moment.

McCain is in a very tough position now and he put himself there.. He will look like a flip flopper if he does goto the debate now. He will look like he is ineffective if he stays in DC to "debate" the bailout and it doesn't get done. He now also looks like a hypocrite because he has done multiple news programs (CBS, NBC) while saying he needs to be working on the bailout.

I don't think either politician (Obama or McCain) should have been at that presidential roundtable. It didn't accomplish anything and inserted the presidential race into this mess. What should of happened is the debate go on, then both candidates meet with their respective party leaders to try and get talks going again. And also please note, democratic leaders stated they were working with the president and his adivsors and things were going well, I think its the republicans who have screwed this up. It is quite apparent that neither the president or McCain has no control of the party and their efforts really remind me of Blagoviech and the seniors ride free stunt while CTA funding was being approved.

Of course, the debate should go on. This appears to be a bit of a habit with McCain...back in the 2000 primaries, when his poll numbers began to tank, he cancelled a debate with Bush.His irratic behavior is pretty scary.

Obama says, "Call me if you need my help" and then goes back into his bunker to be robot-programmed for a debate about foreign policy when everyone else is interested in the economic survival of the country. Then he says that his attention can wait since "one of us will be responsible 40 days from now," apparently not knowing that the new president doesn't take office Nov. 5. Obama also forgets that he, at least on paper, is a U.S. senator and is responsible RIGHT NOW. McCain showed the difference between the two. McCain is a leader and Obama only wants to vote present.

McCain needs to be a grown-up and honor his commitments. This would include participating in the debates---and having his VP participate in the VP debate. Everyone needs to acknowledge McCain's irratic and asymmetrical efforts to throw a wrench, a kitchen sink, theatrics, or some national fear into the campaign. I hope BHO is aware that left field will predominate at the debates-- given that McCain IS involved, and at this time, McCain's behavior appeares to be quite rash. McCain has hid behind and has been running down the clock on his knee-jerk actions for most of the campaign. I would like to hear some grown-up talk and answers about the issues that will affect me--all Americans-- for the next four years.

I don't understand the whole notion that with McCain and Obama in Washington....ta dah - you automatically get a "bailout" or some magical plan? McCain has stated and further proven that he doesn't understand the economy, so what will his presence do to help? There are 435 members of the House - if Obama and McCain aren't in Washington, do they panic and not know what to do?

Both of these candidates aren't going to unveil some new plan and risk their political lives.

It would be different if McCain said "I'm suspending my campaign and going back to Washington because I HAVE A PLAN, and I'm not leaving until it's passed", but that's not what he said at all. He just said he's "going back to Washington because they need 'All Hands On Deck'"

In my mind, that's not leadership, it's falling inline and inserting yourself in the middle of the pack while the shark circle. At least your not facing the shark alone, you have a chance that you won't be eaten first.

I don't buy that McCain is afraid to debate Obama, especially tonights debate on froeign policy. This is Mccain's biggest strength and this type of forum is one that benefits McCain, as well. I think this is an attempt by McCain to appear presidential instead of political during a crisis. Personally, I don't think that missing the debate is a good idea. McCain should know that he has to be political before he can even get a chance to be presidential. I also think that, because this debate is on foriegn policy, Mccain has a chance to establish some needed credibility with independent and undecided voters.

As was pointed out on a couple shows last night, McCain was given the three page bailout plan on Friday, September 19. When asked ON CAMERA about it on Tuesday, September 23, he said -- "I have not had a chance to see it in writing. I have to examine it."

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_09/014878.php

This was on Tuesday! Four days after receiving it! Was it not that important to him? Then two days later he dramatically announces he is suspending his campaign, dropping everything, to take care of the crisis. Why couldn't he have read the plan over the weekend? Again, we're only talking about THREE PAGES!

Is John McCain trying to push back the debate in hope that they will need to eliminate the VP debate next week. I think so. If you have caught any of Sarah Palins limitted interviews with the press, she comes across as very "dim witted", and is definately an embarassement to his champaign. Republicans should be outraged that he picked someone he thought would "shock and awe", everyone because of her (hypocritical) conservative ties to evangelicals, and now instead he has to hide her from the press.

The argument that because they're both Senators their presence in Washington is required or even helpful is just naive. This was 100% pure politics on McCain's part, and Obama has played the hand beautifully.

If McCain fails to show tonight, it will take his already embarrassing campaign past the point of absurdity.

Three cheers for the Republican script writers! This is how it goes, right? McCain rides in on his white horse and courageously brokers a deal with those reluctant GOP congressmen on Friday night to save the US economy while Obama spends the night in Mississippi. Will he single-handedly defeat the evil-doers in Afghanistan? Or fight crime in a talking car with mechanic/sidekick Sarah Palin? Tune in next week...

I really like the way Obama pronounced Taleban and all those other Jihad words so perfectly.
I almost felt like they were code words he was using to let those terrorists know how well he could identify with them and speak their wonderful language. He is going to do so well engaging in direct negotiations with them. They might let him read their press release with his perfect accent before they chop his head off!!!!
Wonderful!!!!
Obama wins the debate!