Please. Nobody give John McCain a stick of gum or he may be forced to suspend his campaign again.

But would the media cover the event as much if both candidates aren't there?

I predict that McCain will show up for the debate, at which he will assert that he and he alone is responsible for saving America's economy from ruin by selflessly suspending his campaign.

Unless McCain's campaign feels that, on balance, his presence at the event would be a negative factor for them. Given how the campaign has been making the two candidates inaccessible to press questions, it may actually believe this.

I think McCain's plan is to use the debates as a carrot to get the negotiations finalized. He knows how much people look forward to presidential debates, so he's using that as leverage to force the negotiators to finish things up. Can you imagine the riots we'd face Friday night if these debates don't go on as scheduled? Whole city blocks would be up in flames before midnight!

With something like that on the line, things will get done. It's a big gamble, but it's crazy enough to work. Isn't that McCain's new campaign slogan?

Yes, maybe he feels he will win more rounds if he's not actually there. And, let's not forget, he couldn't participate in debates for five long years!

I just don't understand ...
Does he want to lose the election?

I think he will show up in the middle of the town hall meeting. That is what he has wanted all along. I don't think they should let him in.

McCain will be there. All this did was take over the news cycle yesterday and today -- maybe even tomorrow.

Prediction: McCain avoids the debate. Obama has an interview/town hall meeting of some type. McCain attempts to blast Obama as a selfish, me-first politician interested in politics while McCain is assuring the survival of western civilization. Within hours, nasty ads about the craven Obama fill the airways.

The takeaway: McCain confronts real issues while Obama is politicking and afraid to take a stand. McCain the experienced leader vs. Obama the talker.

No, I don't think it will work, but I think he'll give it a try.

How many of us still think rational decisions guide this campaign? Hard to predict what they'll do.

McCain took a stupid gamble hoping Obama would agree but Obama didn't take the bait and forced McCain to attend. If McCain does not show up to the debate he will be crucified for the next 40 days and he can kiss any chance of winning goodbye.

Actually McCain lost the election last week with "the fundamentals of our economy are stong" nonsense.

Doctor Biobrain wrote: "Can you imagine the riots we'd face Friday night if these debates don't go on as scheduled?"

Well, I was looking forward to the debate, but there's always the Sci-Fi Channel.

Too bad. I was hoping the debate would go forward without McCain just so we could see what would happen. Maybe Obama would answer all his questions, and then when McCain's turn came, they could turn the cameras on a framed photo of the Senator on the podium and play music for 90 seconds or something.

The Democrats should call his bluff and frankly do their due diligence and debate this bill for more than a millisecond.

Let's at least give each billion dollars an hour of debate.

McCain thought Obama would blink, and he didn't.

OF COURSE the media would cover it, even if Obama was the only one there--ad time has been sold, camera crews dispatched, promos run. What's MSNBC gonna do, run a Lockup marathon instead?

McCain looks like a loser either way. Any moron who would fall for this trick is gonna vote for McCain already, so it gains him ZIP.

"McCain will be there. All this did was take over the news cycle yesterday and today -- maybe even tomorrow."

After looking at all the Palin clips, Reading some of the Rick Davis stuff, and reading the Enquirer article I think it was only to win the battle of the news cycle from now until Friday.

The news was coming fast and furious that would sink them so they spazzed out and threatened to pull the plug. The side benefit that they could vote against Bush and look bipartisan was probably part of the idea but not the main one.

If he sails into the debate, everyone will breathe a sigh of great relief and think of him as a hero, like he's doing them a great favor to rescue them..

If he opts out, he'll be a hero and maverick for standing his ground and caring more about the country...

But clearly this whole thing is a joke.

As Maddow pointed out, historically debates continue during crisis times--indeed, if there were ever a time for a critical debate about our country--it's now!!

Can't the debate committee make a stronger statement?

Shelby just emerged from the meeting with Bush and said "There is no deal", then went back in.

Is this the kind of openness and transparency we would expect in a McCain presidency? Would we all be forever guessing what McCain would pull out of his ass next? We'd all be writing our own prescriptions for Prozac after 6 months. Johnny boy, we just don't have the heart for your histrionic personality disorder.

From John M:

Dear everyone,

As you probably know by now, I decided to diss Letterman last night and I have taken my website off the web.

I still have reservations about the debate on Friday night.

I don't want to give anyone the impresssion that my actions are unpresidential.

The economic crisis on Wall Street is so threatening that I've decided to devote all of my attention to my friends and foes in Washington.

I have asked my staff to use this "time out" to upgrade my website.

When it comes back you will see that it's COOL.

To debate or not to debate that is the question.

I am just not in the mood to have this debate become a debacle.

Therefore I have suspended disbelief.

Country First,

John M.

http://minnesotaindependent.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/timeout.gif

Sweet Jesus, Shelby came forward with many University economists claim this bail out is not the right thing to do…

For me that Wyoming rancher is on target too describing, here, Bush saying if you don’t get this thing going, this bail out for America, or we will slide into the worst economic situation since the depression?

For me, Bush has been hanging around with those Wahabbi Arabs too much.

“Stay the Course�…�I am the Decider� America we have a Wahabbi run government. As I suggested Bush and Company are just slowly squeezing the economy to get what they want. It is criminal.

I can only imagine that the networks would love it if McCain didn't show up. Most people seem to think they already have an idea of what each candidate would say, but if it was possible that McCain wouldn't show up it would be live TV, unscripted and relatively unprecedented.

Sure most conservatives would tune out but everyone from the mid-right all the way to the left would tune in just to see what would happen...

I just really hope that the media gets as pissed as Letterman about this. Hilarity would ensue...

"GOK" about the debate, but what matters crucially here is: to clear up the pre-suspension activity and timeline. Like, who called who and suggested just what, etc. I've heard lots about it but do we really have a clear, objective scoop?

Also, did any of you see Letterman last night? Wow, was he brutal on McCain for canceling his show! I think Letterman's best line, approx: Wait, you don't have to suspend your campaign, just because of whatever coming up - you let your VP candi take over! So, Sarah Palin should have filled in for John that night, etc.

Well! So let's support the hell out of McCan't's "campaign suspension" but just tell him: we expect Sarah Palin to be your stand in! She must go to the debates, attend press conferences, interviews, unscripted public Q&A, etc, just like you'd be expected to do! (If not more and better, to make up for the snub ...)

Then Olbermann came over, it was great. They cut to McCain talking to my little former classmate Katie, saying it was live (I suppose it was, he did have an interview with her that day, and showing McCain getting the face powder - what a scoop) so I guess McCain hadn't fully suspended, huh?

Letterman's Top Ten was great, from
http://lateshow.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/top_ten/index/php/20080924.phtml and formatted best I can. Top and bottom are the best IMHO:

Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Top Ten Questions People Are Asking the John McCain Campaign


"I just contributed to your campaign -- how do I get a refund?"
"It's Sarah Palin -- does this mean I'm Pars'dent?"
"Can't you solve this by selling some of your homes?"
"Hi, this is Clay Aiken. Is McCain single?"
"Do you still think the fundamentals of our economy are strong, genius?"
"Are you doing all this just to get out of going on Letterman?"
"What would Matlock do?"
"Hillary here -- my schedule is free Friday night"
"Is this just an excuse to catch up on napping?"
"This is President Bush -- what's all this trouble with the economy?"

Demand the debate!

Sign Move-on's petition here

Hey so maybe if the old fart doesn't show, David Letterman will consent to fill in?

Obama will speak in about five minutes from the Mayflower Hotel--what a total waste of time he had to spend today because McCain is acting age two.

I agree everyone needs to start clamping down on McCain--it's just not Okay to do this B.S.

It's exploitive and distractive for all Americans.
Very destructive.

Like the Palin pick, a naked, cynical political stunt.

Well, since predictions seem to be all the rage these days, here's mine...

McCain will show up for the debate, but he'll grouse about it, big time. Accuse Obama of being selfish, for "forcing" McCain to leave deliberations on the bailout to attend the debate. Whenever it looks like McCain's effing up, he'll complain that his mind is elsewhere, on doing the job of the people, and Obama's keeping him from his trusted duty. He'll even, at some point cry out "Why are we even here? There's work to do, and we're not doing it standing here talking about what we WOULD do if we were president. We should be working...for the people...RIGHT NOW!" Hopefully, Obama will take him to task for that obvious horsesh*ttery, but there will subsequently be an attempt by the GOP and Fox news (and eventually, the rest of the media) to paint it as the new narrative: WAS Obama selfish for insisting upon the debates (never mind something like 90% of registered voters want the debates to go on)? How mavericky was John McCain for sticking up for what he thinks is right, going back to Washington and settling this bailout once and for all? Isn't McCain, like, the ginchiest (a reference you pretty much have to be as old as McCain to get)? And in subsequent speeches McCain gives, there will always be a Q&A session where someone - completely unprompted and unrehearsed, mind you - thanks John McCain, for saying what needed to be said to that presumptuous punk Obama, who puts his own wants (the debates that actually everyone wanted) over his country (the free pass McCain wanted but didn't get).

I'd totally bet a dollar on that.

Mississippi is SO loyally red that they won't stand up to McCain--one volunteer there said "Well, he hurt my feelings, but I'm still a McCain gal.." That's about as strong a statement you'll get, I'm afraid. The media is not exactly saying much either other than "We hope he'll attend".

Attending the debate or not has no bearing and should have nothing to do with negotiations that have been going on for a week now and will likely continue over the weekend...

McCain has unbelievable hubris to force this false link and to attach such a threat...

"I seriously doubt it."

You should watch what you doubt. The McCain campaign's loose tether to reality has now been completely severed. He can do anything now, and he probably will. And I mean anything. I'd put the chances of McCain barging into the Senate and mowing down people with an M-16 at about 20% right now. He needs to be confined to a room with padded walls for the rest of the election for our protection. The campaign needs to resign and try again with a Romney-Huckabee ticket. That won't bring them into the realm of sanity, but at least they'll be close enough to see it. They will at least be able to claim sanity experience by proximity.

Wouldn't it just be hilarious if Pops stays out and Obama carries forth with a town-hall type meeting, and then wins the whole fucking state? LMAO! They said it couldn't happen in North Carolina, and lookie 2 points ahead.

Fuck you John McCain. You sat on your ass in Vietnam, you sat on your ass for Katrina, and now you sit on your ass at the very time you should be standing tall.

You're no patriot! You're a girlie-man!!

McCain has dug himself into a ditch with this ridiculous stunt. If he doesn't show up he looks like a complete fool - 90 minutes on a Friday night to address the nation in his first presidential debate and he has to hide in his office? If he does show up it still leaves him with the baggage of this dumb stunt. The focus of this debate is foreign policy, the one thing McCain claims as a strength. Given that he should be anxious as hell to debate. Or is it that he wants it later because the focus will shift a little to economics given the current environment - a topic which he's admitted to knowing nothing about and proving to sound completely clueless on?

He'll run in late, sweating with his sleeves rolled up while brethlessly bragging that he just saved the world with the theme of Rocky in the background.

I suspect one of the above commenters is right in saying he won't go, then use Obama's presence as a new talking point and commercial campaign. The theme being some version of Obama using politics and not the country's well being, to score points.

ScottW,

The theme from Rocky? You mean the "Lie of the Geezer," but McVivor?

Risin' up, 4 AM sharp
Try to pee, take some asprin
Was once for this, now I've changed position
Don't you blink, 'cause I'll change it again

Katie Couric, happened too fast
Sarah said some real dumb things
I'll pull a fast one and 'suspend' my campaign
My creepy grin lets you know it's a lie

It's the lie of the geezer, it's a sham, it's not right
I'm avoidin' the challenge of my rival
I may not be able to do two things at one time
But I'm laughing at those who will buy
The lie of the geezer

And as noted in thread above:

John McCain may not have time for a debate tomorrow night, but he has time to talk to ABC, NBC, and CBS tonight.

What a total hypocrite! These interviews need to be pounded on over and over, whenever the subject of his Noble Suspension are brought up, as well as "Then let us talk to Sarah instead."

MissMudd, I like most of your posts and your efforts, but - let's give unpoor old John McCain a break on being held in Vietnam, OK? He couldn't help sitting on his ass when there. There still is plenty to criticize him for, about veterans' issues etc.

The purpose of this stunt was to postpone the Palin-Biden debates, perhaps til after the election, like the release of Palin's medical records..........

Isn't McCain, like, the ginchiest (a reference you pretty much have to be as old as McCain to get)?

Not to stray from the subject, but I know what "the ginchiest" means...Kookie from 77 Sunset Strip...but, please, I'm not as old as McBabble...I still have a pulse and a little bit of skin color...McWhereAmI looks like Nosferatu...

Neil B. You know, I have deep respect Veterans. I even run a group for active military on yahoo since 04. Most are selfless and true patriots. But frankly I find those who use their service experience as a way to manipulate people to be hideous. John McCain has milked his POW status dry and to me it's demeaning to the thousands of others who served there and were never given the props they so justly deserved. I also get terribly disturbed when these guys let Vietnam obscure the wars going on now.

I guess I was a bit crass there though. Thanks for pointing it out. Peace.

John McCain has become a professional at keeping people out of his "town-halls"---so maybe they ought to keep him out on Friday night....

I guess the homeland security color-coded alerts were not working anymore for the GOP so they had to call in sick somehow while still looking brave.

What crisis is McCain responding to?

He continued campaigning through the melt-down and through the Bush-Leaguers negotiating of a bail-out. Only when Congress threatened to rewrite the bail-out did McCain declare a crisis. Is he returning to DC to prevent any measures that would stop Wall Street from making a killing on the bail-out? If so, all that money Wall Street spent lobbying him was well spent.

Is he returning to DC to prevent any measures that would stop Wall Street from making a killing on the bail-out?

Yes. At this point, it's the only explanation for how quickly the deal fell apart.

McCain wouldn't give Obama that opportunity? I think you're giving McCain too much credit. This is a guy who doesn't think about the smart approach to a problem because he is convinced that anything he does is smart, and is therefore the smart approach.

Think back to Obama's Berlin trip and McCain's response: a campaign event at a German restaurant. I wouldn't be at all surprised if McCain bailed on the debate and held a protest event a some local "De Bait" fishing tackle store.

Here's my prediction: If McCain skips the debate adn Obama does the whole thing solo as a town-hall style event, McCain will pivot and make this part of his campaign (as posters above have described), and will also demand that he be given an hour and a half of free air time, without Obama, of course, in the interest of fairness. And the networks will give it to him, in the interest of ratings.

The McCain plan:Fewer Regulations, More Corporate Tax Breaks

Yeah, that'll fly. The Democrats, for all their haplessness, are dealing with this in pretty good faith, acknowledging Wall St. recklessness, trying to install some checks and more oversight, while keeping the taxpayer in mind — however imperfectly.

But this shit? Are you kidding? This is the original Paulson plan, but even worse. And NOT populist in any way.

The public will crucify him if this is passed. The Democrats not only dodged a bullet with the GOP/McCain power play, they now have NO REASON TO TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY.

What a bizarre thing to do on McCain's part. And completely nonsensical from his stand two days ago. Didn't Palin just have to mumble an answer about "oversight" to Katie Couric?

WTF?@!

Think of McCain as an aging diva desperate for attention. All his stunts are consistent with this model. From this point of view, of course he's going to show up tomorrow night.

Think of McCain as an aging diva desperate for attention. All his stunts are consistent with this model. From this point of view, of course he's going to show up tomorrow night.

Got it in one. McCain will show - nobody passes up 90 minutes of free primetime media. But he won't make up his mind until the last minute.

Bet on a "McCain Watch!" all tomorrow, TV cameras on his airplane for a grand Will He Or Won't He? day of nonsensical television. He is indeed an aging diva. It's all about him, and whatever makes him the center of attention.

Lew Scannon, anyone: Is there a reason to think there might be something "interesting" in Sarah Palin's medical records? Or is it just the principle of the thing? BTW, some are worried about Biden's records, feeding the conservative conspiracy thy. he'll be dumped for Hillary in a few.

My new theory on the debate: It is an attempt to remove Palin from the debate schedule, but not because of her inexperience (which she has in spades). They're trying to preserve her political career. There's a good chance McCain/Palin will loose the election. If during this loss she is overly exposed, when she is clearly not ready, her political career is over. If they can protect this new Republican darling, then a McCain loss might not sink her career, and allow her to rise again in a few election cycles.

If I were Palin, I would pissed off at the McCain campaign frankly. She was a Republican rising star, but not quite ready for the stage. She would not have needed McCain's 'help' to ascend the Republican ranks. But now her rising star is hitch to a waning, old, falling star in which both may very well burn up in the political atmosphere.

I just read over at Salon

"A common misconception is that the 90-minute debate would feature Obama, moderator Jim Lehrer and an empty chair if McCain clung to his resolve to stay in Washington. But such a scene -- frequently invoked by talk-radio hosts and bloggers -- is about the only thing guaranteed not to happen on Friday night. "The law requires that there must be two candidates for a debate," said Fahrenkopf, a former GOP national chairman, who helped establish the bipartisan debate commission in 1986. "If we did anything else, we would be making an in-kind contribution to the Obama campaign." "

Is that true?

For those who doubt that McCain would pull a 'no-show' at the debate, I refer you to a picture of the NAACP GOP Presidential Candidate Forum last year.

These guys clearly have no sense of shame, or, to quote Special Counsel for the Army Joseph N. Welch: "You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?"