Jeffrey Toobin: Ummm, can we please stop saying McCain suspended his campaign already?
By SilentPatriot Thursday Sep 25, 2008 7:30am 
Jeffrey Toobin injects a much-needed dose of reality into a panel discussion on "The Situation Room" about John McCain's decision to "suspend" his campaign and postpone the debate.
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Download | play (h/t Heather)
TOOBIN: Well, can I just quarrel with the premise of this? Who says he suspended his campaign? He didn't suspend his campaign. He's been campaigning all day. He gave a speech in New York. He's giving interviews all night. He's raising money. His surrogates are attacking Barack Obama.
I think this is posturing of being apolitical. And, frankly, I think we're being kind of gullible in falling for it. He didn't stop his campaign. He's campaigning. Now whether it's successful or not...
HAYES: He's pulled his ads down, too, Wolf.
TOOBIN: No, he didn't pull his ads down. His ads have been on. And he's done exactly what Obama has done all day. And Obama admits that he's campaigning. It's the middle of the campaign. I don't see why we should treat what he's doing as anything different from what Obama is doing.
Toobin also goes on to say that McCain would look like a "chicken" if he decides to skip out on Friday's debate, which leads to a nice little exchange with right-wing water-carrier Stephen Hayes. I really don't see how it's possible for McCain to bail out. I guess we'll find out later today, but I think AL may be onto something:
Earlier today, well before the contentious meeting at the White House, I wrote this:
[H]ere's the most likely McCain play. He'll swoop in, read through the compromise proposal that's been reached and declare that it's unacceptable in its present form. He'll then demand that something either be added or removed (or both) and use his leverage (his threat to vote no) to get the bill changed. Then he'll vote for the amended bill and take full credit for having made this crucially important change (whatever it is). His surrogates will claim that the whole episode shows McCain's heroic leadership, the way he takes charge of a situation.
I still think this is still the most likely scenario. Right now the major holdouts are the House Republicans who have come up with their own half-baked alternative proposal (really just a set a talking points). Look for McCain to attempt to broker some sort of compromise whereby the existing proposal is modified in some minor way to appease House Republicans and bring a few more of them on board. Then he'll jet down to Mississippi for the debate.
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"Look for McCain to attempt to broker some sort of compromise whereby the existing proposal is modified in some minor way to appease House Republicans and bring a few more of them on board. Then he’ll jet down to Mississippi for the debate."
Yeah, and FAUX will split-screen him coming off the plane, dashing into a limo, and arriving into the auditorium like a Superman scene.
I smell a turd blossom here. Right out of rove's playbook.
The Sarah "bump" is pal'in,
McCain's numbers bail'in.
Time he got to wail'in,
About Wall St. bail'in.
The crooks be sail'in,
As suckers start bail'in.
Yes, that would seem to be the only smart thing for him to do at this point -- but a) it's not clear that he can pull it off and b) it's not clear that he has all his marbles. I kind of think not, actually.
McCain is the Microsoft Clippy of politics:
Hi! It looks like you're trying to fix the economy! Do you want me to..
* Get involved and screw your work up for you with misguided 'help'?
* Keep annoying you?
McPlain is leaving a slimy trail like a slug. If Americans fall for this nonsense and still vote to shoot themselves in the foot, then they deserve another four years of radical politics and ruin for the Nation.
Should anything happen to him, then we can expect even worse from air-headed sarah.
Wolf is such a tool. McCain lied about suspending his campaign. It's easy to see it, and it's easy to say it.
McCain is clearly a dangerous, desperate man who will even play games with the world's financial system looking for some new talking point in his campaign. McCain ("I really don't understand the economy as well as I should") jetting in with his expert advice and innovative solutions to the most complex and urgent global financial problem of our lifetime? Are you kidding me? I'll bet he doesn't know how to balance a checkbook. Hell, he doesn't even know how many houses he and his wife own.
So now they want to solve the problem with less regulation and more tax breaks for those at the top of the wealth/power pyramid? It is like letting the inmates run the asylum.
i love it. calling that wimp Blitzer a liar to his face--on your own network. and even calling the bunch of 'em to task for being "gullible". Yeh. Gullible. Try "lap-dogs."
I don't think the deal will be brokered until after Obama leaves. It will be late enough that McCain can't make the plane to get to the debates.
Then the republicans will go on TV and talk about how Obama is more interested in campaigning than in helping the economy but John McCain stayed until his job was done.
And it will play.
cervantes @ 4:
huh? not clear that he has all his marbles??? haven't you been watching his affect? and that wimpiness that creeps into his tone of voice? this is not just PTSD; this is MEDICATED PTSD.
McCain was running ads here in Florida yesterday and I heard some of his speech at Clinton's shindig. That's why I kept asking yesterday for the meaning of suspension of a campaign. I didn't see any difference in yesterday and the day before. Looked just the same to me.
From what I understood from Dodd yesterday, McCain's arrival in DC basically put a poopie in the punch bowl. Now the house republicans are having a pissing match among themselves. Whether McCain can fix it, is still a question.
Barbara Boxer was on tv this morning and said they were told last week that if they didn't do the bailout in twenty four hours the world would implode. Well, here we are a week later and although the market is having a spasm, the world seems to be holding together. Maybe it's being held together by duct tape and plastic sheeting, I don't know.
(funny, spell check suggested that I use the word "potpie" instead of "poopie" in my comment. Somehow, I just don't think it would have conveyed the same meaning)
I'm glad Toobin called a spade a spade. Maybe this will give others in the MSM the balls to do the same on this one.
My prediction....be on the lookout for some other unecessary "crisis" to keep McCain from the debate. If he bails based on what we have going on right now (a situation nearly everyone agrees he has only mucked up and has no real role in fixing), I just don't see how he can spin this as anything but running from Obama.
Hey, if McCain can't make it to Miss. couldn't they do the debate with him via remote? That way he could protect his ass from looking like a old worn guy next to Obama and he could still participate.
Geraldo @ 10:
Then the Democrats need to play hardball and refuse to go along with a deal until Obama can join them on Saturday. Then McCain will look as if he stayed away from the debate/forum/whatever you want to call it because he is indeed chicken.
There are only two parts in this saga worthy of attention to the American voters:
Will McCain show up tonight.
How will MCcain,Obama,Biden, vote on the bailout bill.
All of the rest is nothing more than detritus created by the MSM.
Toobin is absolutely correct. McCOWARD is pimping this economic crisis to creep out a debate he's unprepared for, wrong on the issues, and AFRAID of Obama. The endless lies and trail of bullshit coming from Grandpa and his peons are a comedy and a tragedy that only the criminally stupid would believe.
pissed off patricia @ 12:
I don't know POP. I've had some of those frozen pot pies and there's not much difference.
Now, if you're talkin' pot brownies, that's something else all together....
McCain ads have been running in Ohio. I never did believe anything would be suspended except the disbelief in the malevolence of the man.
#12--Yeah. McCain ads running here in PA, too. "I''m John McCain, and I approved this message.
McCain is a chicken whether he shows up or not. Hero my ass!
I would think an old coot like mcgramps would be less for suspension and more for paddling.
I've been suspended from ceilings by my wrist.
You think mcgramps and his c**t like sex-play where he's a US prisoner, and she a VC interrogator?
castanea @ 7:
He looked like an idiot listing off the Mccain's "non-campaign events". Wolf likes war and McCain is war.
I love how McCain is leaving everyone at the debate twisting in the wind...as they set up not knowing if he'll come.
Look to the skies people. Look for the giant American Flag parachute that will undoubtedly take McCain down into the "Mission Accomplished" banner at the debate.
Wolfie, Wolfie, he pulled his ads down. Wolfie he pulled his ads down. Wolfie…
The problem McCain faces is the fact that no one really knows if this bailout plan, in any of its forms, will actually work. By using the financial crisis as a backdrop McCain could find himself on the short end of the stick when it comes to economic issues and with his lack of economic experience that is a big gamble. This whole thing could blow up in his face if he is not careful. I can see why he is doing it though. Many undecided voters are leaning more towards Obama on the economy than they are McCain.
Undecided Voters Are Gloomier, Lean Toward Obama to Fix Economy
Sept. 26 (Bloomberg) -- The undecided voters who may make the difference in a close presidential election in November are more pessimistic about the direction of the nation than the broader electorate and are looking even more to Democrat Barack Obama on economic issues.
http://bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a3.2TL5C5hhc&refer=home
I don't know why they even bother doing all this too and fro. We all know that they're going to cave in entirely, Paulson will do his very best Snidely Whiplash imitation ( but only for his soon to be disgustingly RICHER cronies ) and the rest of us will be left to suffer in squalor. I find it difficult to believe that we're so damn stupid that we'd blindly let them consign us all to the consignment bin.
http://rubberstamproskam.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/whiplash.jpg
17 Left&Left
Actually I think we can all agree we think mcgramps is already creepy
I would say wimp out or wuss out.
if McKeating should show up to the debate, he cannot afford *any* real economic question. his *only* chance is to push through some compromise and then refer to this heroic deed, no matter the actual question.
so, considering that any compromise bill will still be crap (lacking any oversight, penalty for gambling bankers, leverage for the state or control over the future downspiraling), the best course of action would be for Harry and Nancy to say "Nice, but not enough, we'll continue talking tomorrow". McCain stays away from the debate, Obama gets to hammer him 2 hours non-stop while half the nation watches, and we'll get a *real* bill next week. 'course if dubya vetoes this one, that's another -10 points for the GOP candidate.
I heard this exchange on CNN yesterday. This clown Stephen Hayes sounded like a school yard kid. Very silly indeed.
18 Yellow Elephant Safari Says: pissed off patricia @ 12:
(funny, spell check suggested that I use the word “potpie” instead of “poopie” in my comment. Somehow, I just don’t think it would have conveyed the same meaning)
I don’t know POP. I’ve had some of those frozen pot pies and there’s not much difference.
Now, if you’re talkin’ pot brownies, that’s something else all together….
_________________________________________________________________
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXAJgle5iXQ
So now Bush will address the nation at 0935 Eastern. If he says one word about mccain rescuing the negotiations i will stroke out.
I live in Ohio and, let me tell you, the political ads are still running like mad for both sides. He's campaigning and his desire to "delay" the debates is either a gimmick or a stalling tactic to make himself look better.
I predict McCain will prep for the debate tonight and come in with some audacious position intended to cause Obama to scramble for a comeback. He wants to mess Obama up and rattle him. Obama should be prepared to counter whatever position McCain takes.
The democrats are too nice to help Bush out. They should just side with the Republicans on this and give a big ass NO to the bailout. That's a way to unite the two parties and a good way to finally tell Bush to go fuck himself once and for all. What is the worst thing that could happen if that's the case? Call off the election? Good, start impeachment proceedings.
I'm in Europe. Anyone that knows of a way to follow the debate live over the internets? What time is it (Central)?
Thanks.
PNY @ 34:
I would like to see him try. McGramp cannot rattle a two year old kid even if he tries.
We get the same thing every time a Republican is called out on a lie: BOTH sides do it, they say. McCain's nonsense about suspending his campaign is equivalent to Obama's calling for cool thinking, you see. The MSM are despicable, in every medium, to every man and woman.
Optisizer @ 36:
It's at 6 pm pacific time till 8 pm on NBC. Since it's being broadcast live I wouldn't chance a guess at what time anywhere else.
You never know what these clowns will do.
McLame is gambling as usual on this gimmick and Americans will see through it and see it for what it is. Obama will be at the debate whether McLame is or not, that sends a strong message he is a real leader and McLame is a coward.
Optisizer @ 36:
You might be able to catch the debate on C-Span. The start time is suppose to be 8 PM CDT.
Just by this asshole being on Wolfie's show shows that McBush was campaigning. Jeez.
And where does this old fraud get off suddenly setting the rules for the debate at the last minute? Grandpa is a LIAR and a CHEAT, with NO HONOR.
All so much political theater to make McCain look like the strong leader. Those recent polls must have really put a scare in the GOP.
Nice prediction there...a helping of epic fail, for everybody!
MrDot @ 44:
They are scared to death, and with good reason. If the democrats start looking into what they've been doing, a lot of them are going to jail. Their party is going to be cast into the wastelands for the proverbial 40 years.
I still can't figure out what in the world McCain thinks this gets him at the end of the day. I think everyone has now figured out that he is trying to make himself look good, and nothing more. The whole thing is just one big ploy. Those who were McCain supporters before, will just proclaim him to be the hero, regardless of what he does or doesn't do. The entire drama queen act, much like most of the McCain antics, only plays to the people who agreed with him from the start. To anyone who was undecided or not a McCain supporter, he comes off as a drama queen and appears crazier than he was given credit for previously.
I have to think that with each stunt he only hurts himself more. Even the press doesn't seem to be buying this charade and is essentially laughing at the campaign.
Then he’ll jet down to Mississippi for the debate.
Yes, and when he does, he will be a man with a bad temper, dealing with a lack of sleep (which at his advanced age is much more difficult than it will be for his youthful and healthy opponent), anger because his gimmick didn't work out, and, of course, a lack of preparedness, all of which will play into Obama's hands.
I think there is a better than even chance McCain will blow his top. If that occurs, the old man is finished.
My friends, I'm too busy saving the world economy, of which I admittedly know less than I should, to attend a debate.
Besides, Diebold and dirty tricks will make me President pro tem, until I bite the big one.
Then President Palin will be president. She doesn't need any foreign policy experience because she speaks in tongues.
Did I mention that she has a invisible JesusShield(TM) against evil witches?
Nobody expects the Alaskan Inquisition!!!
I'm surprised that Grandpa can take his mouth off of Karl Rove's dick long enough to speak.
Shout out to Big Eddie,
This clip demonstrates why CNN's Wolf is such a tool. He's not middle America. He's not rational. He is an empty suit save for the Rovian "Chatty Wolfie" pull string on his back.
The only reason to tune in to CNN is Cafferty.
OK,bush's statement had one purpose: to prevent an early freefall in the stock market. no news.
I will officially refer to Mc Cain as Mr. Suspender from now on out! (Larry King,move over!) -------I'd LOVE to see someone start a campaiggn to send McCain thousands of sets of suspenders------------We can call refer to this as the" Straight Talk Express in suspended animation "campaign--------------the suspense is NOT killing me.
I'll bet this whole problem was orchestrated in coordination with the House Republicans as a stall tactic. All manufactured with the best end result being Obama debating alone in Mississipi while McCain "magically" solves the problem back in Washington. It falls so conveniently into Grampa's campaign message of Obama being academic and out of touch, and Grampa being a man of action. That and it keeps Palin away from going to a debate. It was never Grampy's intention to make it to Mississipi. If Obama flies down there, the House Republicans will back down and McCain will take the credit "solving" the problem. Pure political theater. The Republican Party truly is the Reptilian Party.
SARAH PALIN WEARING EARPIECE IN KATIE COURIC INTERVIEW.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=cP12aNzocSc
0.50 SEC IN THE VIDEO COPY PASTE COPY PASTE!~~!~!~!~!~!!
You've got to believe that all of this has been scripted long ago. The final looting of America is in progress.
As for the VP debate...there won't be one.
Okeedokee then. Bush just came out, said this is "hard work", said something needs to be done and something will be done. Then he turned and marched his smirking ass back inside.
Notice this is now being referred to as a "Rescue Plan" and no longer a "bailout"
market is down 130+ points. 10885 right now.
When McCain swoops in, the Repugs can sing:
Mister Trouble never hangs around
When he hears this Mighty sound:
‘Here I come to save the day!’
That means that John McCain is on the way!
Yes sir, when there is a wrong to right
John McCain will join the fight
On the sea or on the land
He gets the situation well in hand
So though we are in danger
We never despair
‘Cause we know that where there’s danger
He is there!
He is there! On the land! On the sea! In the air!
We’re not worryin’ at all
We’re just listenin’ for his call:
‘Here I come to save the day!’
That means that John McCain is on the way!
This fits right in with those thinking that McCain's campaign is actually an elaborate piece of performance art.
RIP, Andy Kaufman.
For those of you too young to remember.
This from James Galbraith, economist, professor at University of Texas, Austin
"A well-functioning financial system has rules and it's when the rules are relaxed that shady practices and get rich quick schemes abound, which is what happened in the [sub-prime] mortgage system in 2005 and 2006.
The banks' behaviour was conditioned by Bush. [He] sent a clear signal that they could get away with everything, [that there was] no more effective supervision so go ahead and make toxic loans, we won't stop you, then everyone made a bundle and left an enormous mess.
Galbraith says Bush let US banks 'get
away with everything' [AFP]
The evolution of good conduct is defined by effective rules. John McCain [the Republican presidential candidate] lectures on the morals of Wall Street but they are no more or less corrupt than other humans.
A full recovery will only begin with a new administration with a different philosophy seriously committed to ... bringing in new people, giving them adequate resources and the legal authority.
I would argue it is impossible for McCain to do it. Even if he is a genuine convert to prudent regulation which he has opposed thoughout his career, who would believe it?"
mudshark @ 58:
Look for a bottomless fall today, market falling fast since it is only open20 minutes so far.
pissed off patricia @ 57:
Wow. Was that a hologram we saw, or what? How utterly bizarre.
Folks, Palin is the selected choice of CUFI. When Lieberman was nixed as VP, Palin was the choice because of her ties with John Hagee and CUFI- Christians United For Israel.....BIG friends to LIEbermann....This Third
Wave movement of hers involves Ted Haggard,(remember him?)who has created a spiritual Pentagon headquarters,for this movement, in Colorado Springs. The entire background on this is delineated in a Huff Po article about the Wasilla Assembly of God church. Max Blumenthal has done some excellent work on this,tooll. A must read!
http://www.bgladd.com/McSameStore/USS_McCain.jpg
From what I heard yesterday on tv, McCain doesn't have a lot of friends in congress due to his past maverick like actions. Reports from yesterday said he sat there at the table with bush et al, and said nothing. So whose arm is he twisting and how much good will it do.
There was an interview last evening with McCain where he suggested things were going positive and he said how much credit he deserved for that would be left up to the American people. Well, this American person gives him zero credit except for his ability to swoop in and flip the positive applecart upside down.
This is republican politics as usual. Instead of passing the urgent bill that the president and Paulson wanted, the wingnuts have to play like McSame, who is not even on the committee, can't spell economics, will try to pretend he is the broker for the deal they have been working on for over a week, then all their goofy talking heads will be on on all talking head channels Sunday lying about how McSame came to the rescue. Pure bullshit. I am sick of all this pretend non-sense the GOP practices. They play games as Wall Street goes down the crapper.
Anonymous Hussein @ 62:
Well, his little speech did coincide with the opening of the market so I guess he thinks by saying what he did that maybe he could stop the hemorrhaging and put a tourniquet on the wound.
I'm surprised the market is only down as much as it is. It doesn't appear to be in panic or anything.
♠♠...Bangkok Bob...♠♠ @ 61:
I am just a tiny part of that opening slide. I sold off some of my stocks right at the opening and took the gains from the previous days. With all of the bad data from the past few days, Washington Mutual going under, and the bailout in limbo I figured my best bet was to just sit on cash for now.
Ex-Canuck @ 2:
I totally agree.
and the added twist that all this makes it appear as if the entire GOP House members are standing up to Bush so they have some wiggle room in their campaigns.
They're more 'Hollywood' than the Hollywood they love to bitch about.
Joe O. @ 68:
Coffee cans in the back yard?
mudshark @ 58:
Good. Let me know when it gets to 9,000
♠♠...Bangkok Bob...♠♠ @ 70:
If things continue as they seem to be, that may be an option. lol
♠♠...Bangkok Bob...♠♠ @ 70:
I tried that once. It got wet. I'm glad I checked it after 3 months.
So what do you think? Is McShame going the chicken out or not?
He won't show.
The WaMu fire sale is an indication of the aggregate state of the Bush economy. JP Morgan paid roughly 1.6 cents on the dollar for WaMu's net assets.
Captain Bitter Angry Kangaroo @ 74:
Eat Mor Chiken.
I'll have the pulled pork with a side of lipstick, thanks.
He won't show.
Captain Bitter Angry Kangaroo @ 74:
I would have to flip a coin to answer that question for you. Should he? Damned straight. Will he? Probably depends on which way the political winds blow today. They showed polls this morning that said the public approved of his "country before politics" stunt. So who knows?
pissed off patricia @ 67:
I think many people are in a holding pattern right now with their stock portfolios and are trying to decide which way things are going to go. I liken it to that slow motion effect everyone experiences when someone kicks a ball into the air during a game. Right now everyone is watching the ball as it flies through the air and they are hoping to be in the right positon when it lands.
McCain will claim that this demonstrates his ability to work with disparate groups to achieve a compromise that is in the best interests of the nation. The reality is that it's more like the left hand working with the right hand— a feat normally adjudged within the abilities of a typically coordinated adult.
Joe O. @ 79:
Or they have already lost so much they have decided to just ride it out and see what happens next.
Liberal AND Proud @ 50:
Well said. Of the million and one things that bother me about McKeating, one that's near the top of the list is the fact that he HIRED the very same people that utterly slimmed him in 2000! I remember his (righteous) outrage back then. He said something to the affect that there's "a special place in Hell" for this person or that (Tucker Bounds?). Hell, I ALMOST felt bad for the guy back then....not anymore. What a complete scumbag!
mudshark @ 75:
He'll be there, and start off by bitching about how Obama is playing politics while the nation is crumbling, and how he, McCain, is the only one who cares.
Of course, he won't be challenged on it, and the real issues of the debate will be lost in the bullshit.
Which, of course, was the entire plan.
Ole Hit and miss McCain-well he's true to form- how many planes did he hit and miss ,including the USS Forrestal? Five? Wet start? Ole Hit amd Miss McCain-wonder if he'll miss the Ole Miss target,tonight,too?
Renell @ 84:
http://www.bgladd.com/McSameStore/CarrierCrash.jpg
73 mudshark Says:
I tried that once. It got wet. I’m glad I checked it after 3 months.
______________________________________________________________
That's how Romanians check for vampires, although it could be generic Eastern Orthodox. They would unearth a body of a relative after three months, six months and lastly nine months to check on the progress of the decay. After nine months (interestingly enough the time needed for gestation), they would wash the bones off with wine and rebury the body for good. If at any time it stops rotting, they think they have a vampire on their hands.
The Greeks had a curse a parent might put on a child (or a clergyman on a parishioner), "May the earth reject you!" thus dooming them to not rotting and to rise from the grave as a necromenos or a vrykolokas, remarkably similar to the Romanian varcolakos. The dead needed the original priest or parent to forgive him. Many would not thus harming their own community.
Reminds me of a ghost tale I've read, where the ghost of a former seaman was haunting the ship where he died. What got rid of him was the pres