McCain: Postpone debate for crisis

Oh Boy...here we go.....

Let's hope Senator Obama will take the high road and join McCain instead of using it for political gain.

The October surprise came a little early this year.

I cannot believe McCain is taking this step! Cancel the debate? How about DEBATING THIS IN FRONT of the public? I want to hear what each of them have to say!!!Does he think the country will just stop unless he runs back to Washington to fix everything for us? That's it, he's officially a nut job in my book.

Evidently, somebody threw the McChurian Candidate a queen of hearts.
'.....must ......not....... debate....'
-
I for one want to know what these hot dogs will do in THEIR terms as prez.

I no our President needs to be a "Decider," but this sure looks like cut and run. Maybe the crisis for McCain is that his poll numbers are plunging and and his cheerleader Palin is being hidden from the press.

Desperate time, for desperate men.

http://www.boppoll.com.

McCain's bop-o-meter is headed toward 1,000,000

Obama '08

It wasn't a crisis just last week. He's for the bailout, he's against the bailout, he wants to be part of the solution, he doesn't want his opinions to sway the process.....What on earth does this guy stand for?

And now, because he's about to get creamed, he wants to postpone the debate. Thursday's a critical day? Every day has been critical since last Monday. He's out stumping and Obama's in meetings with the economic experts and is having conversations with Paulson and Bernacke. Is this guy senile? I just don't see him being able to look even vaguely intelligent running a counrty, let alone standing up and speaking during a debate.

I can't wait for Jeff to agree that this is a good idea and watch other Gop'er get in lockstep with Grandpa.

Hell naw! Don't cancel the debate. McCain needs to show he can walk and chew gum at the same time. Is everyone staying home from work because of the economic crisis? Is the stock market still open? Is everything else going on as per normal? Then there is no reason to cancel a 90 minute discussion about the issues. McCain is obviously not prepared and fears he will not be able to focus enough to get this thoughts straight. Let 100 million Americans see what he is made of in a stressful situation.

Funny he mentioned putting politics aside when this is clearly a political move.

PANIC! The campaign is in freefall! Cancel the debates. The end is near! To the bunker!

Has nothing to do with being nine points down in one poll, and the revelation that his aide got $2 mil for lobbying, would it?

This smells of a stunt born of desperation as the tide turns against him.

Funny that the most absent member of the Senate (over 60% votes missed!) should suddenly get serious and call for a "time out" when he's tanking in the polls and about to engage in a make-or-break debate. All of a sudden the Senate can't function without McCain, huh? Do Senate sessions typically last into the debate hours?

Will McCain start acting like a man and face Obama? This is getting childish. I think America will survive for the couple of hours during the debate. The economy is in bad shape, but I don't think it's going to complete collapse during that short time frame.

That request from McSame sounds good..However the Bipartisans that are presently dilligently working on the Economic Crisis have stated they don't really want McCain nor Obama there...This is actually a subliminal Republican message from McSame to get him attention since he is behind in the polls...

And what, exactly, is McCain going to do? We have 98 other Senators and 435 Congressmen, plus two real experts. And a President, who like him or not, is still the President.

This is a political stunt.

He's not putting politics aside; he's playing politics with this grandstanding. Congress is already making progress on a more realistic deal.

How about we just do the VP debate earlier? I think this would be an excellent Idea! It will save the venue and won't throw off schedules...Mrs. Palin isn't in the Senate so there shouldn't be a problem...!

Why can't both events take place? A conference in Washington on Thursday and the debate in Mississippi on Friday seems doable to me.

They should move the debate to Washington so they can attend the Senate hearings as well as have the debate. I am pretty sure it would be relatively trivial to find a location in DC with good television and radio connectivity.

This smells of a stall tactic. It is the Republican regulatory policy (one that McCain endorses) that allowed this to happen, and he has not figured out how to weasel his way out of it.

Mister de-regulator himself suddenly doesn't want to debate his Washington insider record? Sorry Mr. McCain, but someone in the GOP needs to answer for the past eight years of financial mis-planning. Financiers love to capitalize gains but socialize their losses the first chance they get. Let the debate go on as planned!

McCain is chickening out of the debate! This just shows how scared he is of BARACK OBAMA!

What a crock. McCain just wants to wait til Monday because the Republicans are looking really bad right now. I guess he hopes everything will be resolved on Monday...but I hope it isn't! He just doesn't want to go out this with this fiasco hanging over him.

Kudos to Senator McCain for stepping up to walk the walk. Leadership, sometimes means making the hard decisions. Apparently, "America First" is not just a slogan.

I guess McCain needed a bit more time to learn what that economy exactly is.

Of course McCain is doing this for political gain.

McCain is stalling to see which way the wind is blowing so he can pose as a reformer and say what he thinks has the most political advantage.

If he was a true patriot he would have chosen to put the country first instead of his political ambitions in his selection of VP.

McCain will say anything, change any previous position, and lie and distort his opponents record. I don't trust anything he does.

If McCain is willing to take the famous 3 AM phone call, why is he not able to face possible questions about his economic stance on the scheduled date of the debate. I wonder where Palin is standing on this issue. McCain will not let her speak on her own!

McCain is running scared. They are looking at the polls, and the huge momentum moving towards Obama, and are trying to delay it so he looks more "presidential." Pathetic. McCain is the one using this for political gain, not Obama.

The debate is more timely than ever. The American People deserve to hear both candidates discussing this issue, out loud. Otherwise, we will just get empty rhetoric from both sides.

And how is this going to change a debate focused on foreign policy for which both candidates have already sacrificed time away from Washington in preparation? Now, one John McCain's visit to Washington on Friday is supposed to make up for his past 26 years in Washington. I have to say, John McCain has increased my cynicism toward politicians like no other, even beyond Bush.

What's that I smell cookin'? Oh boy, its chicken!

Wow. We really have a keen insight as to how a McCain administration would run. First, with the Palin pick McCain showed how he will choose politics over competency. Then, this last week with the financial crisis he has been the model of contradiction and instability across the board. First the fundamentals of the economy are strong, then he wants a commission to study the problem (showcasing both his lack of understanding of the issues and the absence of urgency on his part), then he was for the AIG bailout before he was against it, now the problem is so urgent that the world has to stop in order for him to focus on this issue. Really? This is how McCain is going to react in a crisis? He has to cancel the debate because he can’t work on two simultaneous tasks at the same time? I hope any critical government issues that come President McCain’s way are flexible enough so that he can put them aside to sit and think about other more pressing crises. Obama has been steady and unflappable in the wake of this crisis as compared to McCain who can’t seem to express a consistent thought.

There is no reason why they should cancel the debate. Are we that stupid to believe that Mccain will be working 24/7 to resolve this? When is the last time either of them have been in Washington anyways? Another ploy by Mccain to try and take the spot life off him, and the Obama domination that will take place on friday.

It's a rather weasel-like way to get the Rick Davis related lies out of the news.

The news is reporting that the Congress is starting to near consensus on this.

Does McCain ever evaluate anything? Or is it always shoot first?

Did the dog eat his homework?

We really do not need a debate on forgien policy right now. What Sen. McCain is asking for is smart. I feel certain that Sen. Obama was thinking about the same.

Please. If you were really more interested in solving the current "crisis", you would have suspended all campaign operations weeks ago and called upon both parties to forget political lines to form a consensus. Right now, I think it is extremely important to see how each candidate stands on economic issues and for their ideas, good, bad, or absurd, to be heard. Despite the turmoil on Wall Street, we need to seriously get to the business of selecting the next President. After ONE night of debates, you can fly back to Washington to assist the experts in settling the situation.

I could care less about McCain and his motives, but I agree everyone should get their rears back to Washington and get this crisis healed. If they cannot do that, then they should all be out of jobs. I am tired of losing value of my home, my 401K and maybe soon, my job.

Regardless of your political persuasion, I think that it is important to remember that both McCain and Obama are still serving their current terms of office.

I don't recall either one of them stepping down to run for president.

(And appointing their children)

The bailout will cost us each a great deal of money. Personally, I'd like to hear what these two have in mind, rather than having it all hashed out behind closed doors in DC.

So what... have the debate on Monday when the economic crisis is over? Riiiiiiiiight.

See, this is why McCain cannot be trusted: in calling for postponing the debate he challenges Obama to show his "patriotism?" If instead McCain had cited some meaningful reason, he would be trustworthy, not to mention credible for once. The way he did it reveals his opportunistic nature and how desperate he is to depict Obama as conciliatory to him. Obama will agree to postpone the debate and get points, but McCain loses the round on the come out.

Have that conversation in front of the American People.

You can jump in your private jets for the 1 hour flight back to DC after the debate.

"At 8:30 this morning, Senator Obama called Senator McCain to ask him if he would join in issuing a joint statement outlining their shared principles and conditions for the Treasury proposal and urging Congress and the White House to act in a bipartisan manner to pass such a proposal. At 2:30 this afternoon, Senator McCain returned Senator Obama's call and agreed to join him in issuing such a statement. The two campaigns are currently working together on the details."

So, Obama reaches across the aisle, and McCain grandstands in response.

Wasn't it McBush and the republican croonies who were just blasting Obama for the very same statement? Hypocrits.

That is so weak. If you're chicken, just say so.....

Huh? What is there another hurricane coming that can be milked for political gain? I thought presidential leaders were supposed to be able to multitask. Can't McCain play Senator by day and presidential candidate and debater by night for two hours? Will Senator Obama feel obliged to participate in this political charade for fear of appearing callous to voters anxious for some good financial news? Why not delay the entire election till every crisis in the world is over? That way, George W. will never have to leave office.

So McCain is having a problem talking to the nation during a crisis, is he?

Doesn't bode well for his proposed presidency. If he can't handle multiple crises at the same time as a candidate (who's not on the banking committee, so why does it matter if he's in Washington or not until it comes to a vote) then how can we trust him not to completely melt down if he lives to take the oath of office?

Under no circumstances should the American voters be denied this opportunity to evaluate the candidates while under real pressure. DO NOT DELAY THE DEBATE.

What McCain really would like to do is cancel ALL the debates entirely, especially the one where Sarah "Handle With Care" Palin is involved.
A far better idea would be to reschedule the foreign policy debate scheduled for this Friday and make this Friday's debate about the economy.

Well a hurricane might crop up too so it just makes sense.

It's quite odd that Mr. McCaine believes that by postponing the presidential debate, he can start fixing our economy. Did this fool actually wake up within the last 24 hours and realize that our country has been floating above the drain? Are he and his party really that aloof and arrogant to think that the people of this country are really that blind and sheepish to believe that he feels so patriotic as to rush in and save America for it's veritable state of looming financial disaster? This is clearly an act of desperation on his part to bow out of a nationally televised event that would truly reflect his ignorance with regard to this countries economic policy. He's will be competing against a sharp man who will reveal the real John McCaine within the first 10 minutes of the program. Obama has proven to be sensible, utilizing good purposfull judgement. He is aware of this coutries plight, and seems to connect to middle class Americas. This is something that the incumbent president and McCaine can't seem to grasp, even if it were handed to them on a silver platter with an instruction kit that a child could comprehend. McCaine is pathetic and arrogant. It is inconceivable how low he and his party will go to buy time, attempting to slow down Obama's momentum innthe race. Mr. McCaine, if you are as patriotic as you would like all Americans's to believe you are, then please forfeit the presidential race. Not only to save yourself much embarassment, but for the better of good.

If the CEO of a failing fortune 500 company gave his resignation, would it be prudent of the board to stop searching for a replacement because of more pressing issues? Just a thought.

It's obvious that while the economic crisis and questionable bailout plan are at the forefront of voter's concerns, it puts McCain at a disadvantage in a debate with Obama. His firm belief in deregulation which is aligned with that of the Bush Administration are association he'd like to avoid. It's a stall tactic pure and simple. Stall until the bailout plan, with caveats, is passed.

Obama can do both, because all he does is vote the way Harry Reid tells him to. He does not need to personally understand the meaning of the bill he is voting for. I don't know about you, but I would prefer that my legislators actually took the time to understand the laws they are passing, particularly laws on subjects as critical as this one.

If I am McCain, I say go ahead and debate yourself then. I have immediate and urgent responsibilities which take precedence over my personal ambitions.

And to those of you thinking McCain is not as smooth a talker as Obama, all I can think is that you must never have seen Obama do anything other than read a written speech.

Maybe Sen. McCain can also suspend the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan while they work this out. Considering neither McCain or Obama is on the Banking Committee and haven't been in DC up to now, looks like political games by McCain; he can't multi-task?
Besides, I already got the food and beer for my debate party.

what a joke!

is this the race for president in north korea? the vp candidate won't take any questions -- even from her supporters, and now we will not here from the *presidential* candidate???

i'm sure it has nothing to do with his poll numbers ...

or that he was for deregulation before he was against it ...

or that he knows a solid showing by obama buries his campaign ...

really, gop'ers, do you not see *anything* wrong with this?

THE DEBATE MUST GO ON!

TYPICAL SHORT SIDED, CRISIS-TO-CRISIS REPUBLICAN THINKING THAT GOT US HERE!

WE NEED TO SEE OUR CANDIDATES NOW.

JOHN MCCAIN ISN'T THE TREASURY SECRETARY, HE ISN'T THE PRESIDENT, HE ISN'T ON THE BANKING COMMITTEE

SO WHAT ELSE DOES HE HAVE TO DO FRIDAY NIGHT???

THE DEBATE MUST GO ON!

IF NOT NOW, WHEN...OHH I GOT IT..WHEN ITS CONVEENNNIENT!

PLEASE

Oh come on. McCain is not trying to skip out on the debates. This is not just some lame excuse. This IS something that needs to be dealth with, and NOW. And I'm sure they WILL debate about this very issue whenever the debates do occur. Either way, debate on Fri or no debate, it'll happen and they'll be talking about this. I think it's great they're at least coming together to draft a response about this crisis.

WHAT A WEASEL!!

Barack Obama privately called McCain this morning suggesting they make a joint statement on the bailout and John McCain agrees. And then McCain, on his own comes out with this!

Let's hope Sen. McCain will take the high road and join Sen. Obama in debating this hugely important issue before the American people now, precisely when it is so crucial. Failure to do so would demonstrate Sen. McCain's unpreparedness for the presidency.

First Things First check your facts! Obama already took the high road and called McCain First. McCain took 6 hours to respond. Like it was his idea and instead of issuing a joint statement. McCain's always playing some kind of political game. He's just like Bush, who's called Wolf so many times nobody is listening. And well they shouldn't, the damage, the lives and the cost to the American People. Enough!

This is a serious breach in the democratic process. For one candidate to withdraw from a presidential debate, in the midst of a Scandal, smells fishy !! Fortunately, we know what he stands for, the very crooks who put our economy in the ditch !! Senator McCain and his mentor, President Bush, should withdraw from the political scene, entirely, for good !! They and their brand of Republicanism have done this nation great harm and now, they will not even debate the issues. Back to the USSR, that's where we are !!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.

Does this mean that if the U.S. gets attacked again that McCain will call a time out so that he can figure out what to do?

Put it off? These guys should be debating weekly, at least. And the current crisis requires a debate so we can see the candidates' ideas and proposed responses first-hand - how do they work under pressure? It would be refreshing these guys exchange something besides ads, barbs, and whether it's appropriate to apply cosmetics to farmyard animals.

McCain's tredding on thin ice with me with implications that his oponent would be unpatriotic if he did not agree to postpone Friday's meeting.

Have that conversation in front of the American People. Then they can both get back in their jets for the hour flight back to DC.

The rest of the House and Senate can play on the swingset while McCain and Obama are having a Big Boy discussion.

I really shouldn't be so cynical.

I have one thing to say to Senator McCain: "Bawk, b-bawk bawk, bawk bawk!!"
And one thing to say to Senator Obama: "Don't fall for it, Barack!"

Wait, what? Whatever happened to a debate "any time, any place."

So the economic situation sucks, but it's not such a catastrophe that these two men can't take a couple hours to discuss it on national televison. It's not like people are dying in a national disaster or something.

So much for calm in a crisis. Run, Johnny, Run. God forbid you should debate this whole mess, Mr. I'm Fundamentally a Deregulator....

Wait, does this mean that the fundamentals of our economy aren't strong?

funny how everyone is attacking mccain saying he is using this to duck obama. it was obamas idea, mccain just made his announcement first. and of course you cancel the debate. because if they are working on this on friday they will not be able to make it to the debate.

They're both sitting senators and you can't say neither would be needed in Washington. Heck, let the networks use that time to become CSPAN and televise the debate on the floor for the American people. That way it'll mean something rather than just be hot air for the network cameras.
A BRILLIANT move by McCain.
Jillery, one problem, Biden's a sitting senator, too. Doh!

Seems the talking points are slow coming out of the GOP braintrust. I'm sure there will be a blast shortly.

Give me a break - sounds like he is a bit skiddish since he is tanking......

Incredulous. I say keep the debate going. This is not war with the Kremlin; rather, some Financial markets that did not manage themselves due to greed. Why didn't McCain propose these actions 6 months ago. It seems the legislature has needed All 100 Senators then too to make crucial decisions on the killing fields in Iraq and Afgan. I say McCain and Karl Rowe secretly know McCain and Patlin are not ready. This is buying time for Palin. McCain surely didn't do his 'homework" at the Naval Academy, where he finished 890 in a class of 895. He's done it again. Old Geyser. Wondering if Obama would have proposed this?

Gee, wouldn't you think an economic crisis would be a perfect time for McCain and Obama to debate about the ECONOMY and other ISSUES or does the McCain campaign just want to keep issuing attack ads in place of actual discourse. What will be the excuse when Sequestered Sarah bails out on her debate with Biden? This is absolutely unbelievable and unacceptable. Apparently it is impossible for McCain to handle both obligations. Again, not a good sign for a presidential candidate.

It's a stall tactic pure and simple. It's obvious that while the economic crisis and questionable bailout plan are at the forefront of voter's concerns, it puts McCain at a disadvantage in a debate with Obama. His firm belief in deregulation which is aligned with that of the Bush Administration are associations he'd like to avoid. His lack of competency when dealing with this is is alarming. Don't take my word for it check out George Will's comments.

I have to laugh at the Obamapologists on this blog. They're gnashing their teeth because their candidate didn't propose this first. With Obama, it's always Barack first. With McCain, it's country first. And even if it is political - it's another masterstroke. McCain is decisive, bold, and keeps his adversaries off their toes. Sorry kool-aid kids, Barry blew it again. Another Democrat for McCain/Palin 2008.

Shouldn't a President (or a candidate for President) be able to multi-task? This move implies that McCain can only focus on one issue at a time. He will be lost in the White House. As others have mentioned, this is obviously a move born of fear - fear of debate and his plunge in the polls.

I've been anticipating this debate for weeks now. McCain better get on the ball, because he is already behind. He doesn't need a "NO SHOW" on his resume for not attending a debate. Barak says "The debate is still on" dammit!!! McCain better show up like a man and debate. This is just another gimmick by the republicans... just like Palin.. a damn gimmick and tool.

Bringing his campaign to a grinding halt worked like a charm during Gustav. Why not go to the well again?

As someone who has supported deregulation, I don't think McCain can be much help. Good try though.

Wow.....McCain wants to inject more fear into the general public by intimating that the state of this crisis is so dire that everyone needs to drop whatever they're doing and rush to Washington? Exactly the kind of GOP fear-mongering that led us into Iraq. I certainly hope that most voters are on the GOP hustle by now.

Wow you mean McCain wants him and Obama to actually do the job that they were elected for. How does a 60 min debate where both guys have the questions in advance take precedence over an economic emergency. This is a stupid debate anyway where both candidates are just being packaged and spun like products to be sold to stupid consumers. Obama refused to egngage in the town hall style debates that every question is not known in advance. These debates are stupid. This country is in trouble if these 2 are the best we have to offer. Obama has never done anyting I MEAN ANYTHING. He was a below avg lawyer. His law firm never put him as the lead atttorney on any case. McCain is a career Navy guy who doesnt know anything about the economy. WE ARE IN TROUBLE!!!!!!!

Falls into the category: dog ate my homework.

Does this remind you of anything?

This looks like another Republican push to get this legislation pasted through quickly and a way to look like he cares so much, about us.... oh and probably to try to steal the spotlight, now that it is getting dimmer for him and Palin.

And now Bush will speak to us all tonight, yes in another attempt to FOOL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE...... does having to rush get this done now in congress remind you of anything?????? Say like the war, all the same old act, but don't be fooled. The question still is how does this benefit the American people(taxpayers).

Oh and Palin's remark today in New York we could be heading to another Great Depression!!!!!

SCARE, SCARE, SCARE do we know that one.............

This is ridiculous. What could possibly be happening on Friday night for a couple hours that should require calling off the debate? The American Voters DESERVE to hear the candidates debate the issues. What good are either of them going to do in Washington right now. They'll only get in the way and slow things down. McCain, as of yesterday, admitted that he hadn't even READ the proposal. The candidates will be nothing but a distraction to the process that is already underway.

This is pandering, pure and simple.

Bad idea Mccain. We need public debate more than ever now! I want to hear what both candidates think about the current situation. I want an open, exchange of ideas. Mccain hasn't been in Congress much for the last 2 years...now all of a a sudden his current job is important?

Maybe Palin can step in for McCain during the debate with Obama. But since she's not ready for press confrences, I don't see her being ready for a debate either.

I guess McCain is what you might call a "unitasker." A "type Z" personality. A Republicant.

Now is *precisely* when we need them to debate! We need to hear from them about the pressing issues that are becoming more and more pressing every day.

This sounds to me like McCain is just trying to back out because he knows he will not do well.

McCain is aptly demonstrating how well he would respond to a crisis as President - can everything else wait until next week?

Of course McCain doesn't want to debate Obama. He wanted to stay in Iraq if it took 100 years. Since he said that the Iraqi government has gotten the Bush administration to agree to a withdrawal timetable. Two weeks ago McCain said the fundamentals of the economy were strong. Now we are facing an economic meltdown, according to Paulson and Bernanke. Besides, what imput does Congress need from a guy who admits he really doesn't understand the economy? By the way, aren't these mortgage backed securities Paulson wants to buy the very ones that NY Attorney General Andrew Cuomo made all the banks buy back from investors in August?

In the time it took for the McCain campaign to put together his speech event about calling off the debate...they could have had a debate.

Talk about cut 'n run.

If McCain were really serious about behaving in a bi-partisan (or non-partisan) way, he would have made this suggestion to Obama privately, so they could have worked out the details together amd made a joint statement - nobody gets the credit, the country comes first.

Instead, he made a public statement as a way to force his opponent to react one way or the other. It's obviously a politically motivated move - like the Palin nomination - designed to knock all the chips off the table because he's behind in the game.

His Palin distraction has worn thin, so he needs a new diversion to throw his opponent off-balance. This is yet another cynical attempt to juice up McCain's poll numbers, and nothing more. Obama should call him on it.

Funny how people think that McCain is afraid to debate Obama. Where were those people when McCain offered to have ten townhall meetings with Obama, and Obama said, "No, three formal debates are enough"? I think even Obama supporters in the media would acknowledge that Obama refused to do so because he does not come off very well in uncontrolled situations. Check his performance at that Saddleback event they were both at recently if you doubt that.

Also, to see the ridiculing of McCain for not being at the Senate much recently is almost ludicrous given the paucity of time Obama has ever spent in the Senate, beginning the moment after he was elected (having promised not to run for president in 2008) and then began running for president.

Vote for whomever you want, but don't make up stuff just to delude yourself into thinking that your guy is Jesus Christ and the other guy is Satan.

Maybe they are actually both good guys - imagine that, America producing two worthwhile people instead of just one in 300,000,000 - who just have different beliefs and different approaches that they think will work better to help the country.

Wow. The negative campaigning everyone complains about is nothing compared to the crap that the people who complain about the negativity make up and spew in places like this.

Actually it sounds more like a McCain political "timeout" to give him time to blunt the other team's offensive momentum!!!

I knew Obama would win the debate without a problem this Friday. Who knew it would be so easy.

Why didn't McCain offer this as a joint statement, as Obama suggested this morning.

Very cheap, and undignified political stunt.

"So what... have the debate on Monday when the economic crisis is over? Riiiiiiiiight.

Posted by: Stephen | September 24, 2008 3:57 PM "
If the bill gets passed, yes.

FINALY SOME LEADERSHIP

Now if one of them can demonstrate that they can provide some leadership on Capitol Hill when the taxpayers are praying that either one of these yahoos can fix what is wrong in Washington.

McCain has shown this in the past - this is Obama's first time to demonstrate he can put public policy ahead of petty politics. I hope he joins him on the Hill and pushes idiots like the speaker that this isn't a Republican problem, or 'their' bill - this is a problem facing America and requires real bipartisan leadership.

The time has never been so urgent to hear from our top contenders! We are in crisis. It is precisely the time to know know what they think. And precisely NOT the time to cancel such a critical debate.
What is the commission on the Presidential debates thinking??? This is not a ball game that might be appropriately canceled during a storm. These are life and death issues for the USA. Let the debates begin!

This is complete nonsense! Now is absolutely the right time to have the debate. We need to know where these candidates stand on the critical issues facing our country. We don't get a "time out" or hit the pause button on time and events because its not convenient. Because in a matter of weeks it will be a problem to be reckoned with by one of them.

The bailout will cost us each a great deal of money. Personally, I'd like to hear what these two have in mind, rather than having it all hashed out behind closed doors in DC.

One of these men is going to be President of this country. They most certainly should be a part of the decision as to what happens with the monumental problem that this country is facing. What the hell is Reid's problem? Is he afraid they will put a halt to his wanting to curse the taxpayers of this country with an unsurmontable debt for the rest of our lives as well as the lives of our children and grandchildren. Obama and McCain drop the debate and go to Washington to do what the taxpayers elected you to do!

If McCain can't deal with 2 things at the same time - how does he expect to manage as President?
This is a cheap stunt by a campaign that is not only shielding its VP choice from the Media, but now attempting confuse leadership with cowardice.

Scared
Dazed
Confused

We need someone that can juggle many balls at one time.

This is a move of desparation.

McCain can not fix a problem on a friday afternoon. And like many others have said 90 minutes of debate wont hasten the end of our financial world. McCain needs to step up and for the first time we need to see these men in action. McCain can't go on hiding from reality, using Palin as a distraction, using our hardships as his own personal bailout. If this debate is delayed it will be a greater injustice to the American people than the complete disregard our financial system has shown to us. I'm so tired of hearing excuses, tell me something that's going to make me think, care, and understand what is going on in my country.

Any of you Obamaphiles recall that McCain offered to do joint town hall meetings with Obama during the electoral season, but Uhhhbama refused (as he couldn't use his teleprompter).
McCain has never shied away from debate or confrontation, so the whole "chicken" depction is outrageous. Besides, he can always send out Palin.

"funny how everyone is attacking mccain saying he is using this to duck obama. it was obamas idea, mccain just made his announcement first. and of course you cancel the debate. because if they are working on this on friday they will not be able to make it to the debate."

Tim, sweetie, Obama wanted the two to release a joint statement. McCain is the one who got cold feet about a debate.

Nice try.

They should not postpone the debates. McCain should be embracing the time to give his concrete ideas on how to grow the economy and solve this "crisis" to the American public. No one will answer what happens if we do nothing? Is this just a scare the public tactic ? It looks like cut and rum to me.

Also as noted in a story this afternoon on NPR, this would cost the university and people who worked very hard to schedule this debate lots of money, like possibly 1 million or more. Include the tourism money that any of the debates would bring in.

This is a political stunt, but it is ingenious. If Obama turns down McCain's challenge, he will appear aloof and detached. After all, he is still a Senator, and if the country is in peril, he needs to put politics aside and actually show some leadership skills. The guy has never run so much as a lemonade stand. On the other hand, if Obama returns to Washington as McCain suggested, Obama will be seen as slow reacting; simply following the decisive McCain's lead. Whatever happens, you can always tell whether a McCain move is effective or not by checking out the Swamp posts. If the Swamp rat liberals are angrily flailing away like they are in this blog, McCain obviously did something right.

it was obamas idea, mccain just made his announcement first.
Posted by: tim | September 24, 2008 4:13 PM

That alone makes this whole thing stink. McBush making it seem like he was above politics. This plain stinks.

Yeah, no presidential debates, just VP debates, all Palin all the time. God help us.

I cannot believe some of the comments I'm reading on this board.

If Obama came out first and said -- you know what guys, the we're having an economic meltdown and we should step up and be leaders and go back to Washington to solve the crisis -- he'd be hailed as a hero.

Instead, McCain steps up and he's being accused of ducking Obama.

What is Obama afraid of?

If the debate does not happen and McCain does go to Washington and if an agreement is hammered out WITHOUT Obama's help, will THAT change the Obamabots' minds?

I forgot about this. Maybe McCain's make-up artist is booked Friday and can't make it to the debates:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/24/mccains-5000-makeup-will_n_128973.html