So When You Say "Suspending..."

As Jonathan noted earlier, John McCain's suspension of his campaign is a complete sham. Cribbing from Scout Finch:

  • Surrogates and advisors on the teevee attacking Obama? Check.

  • Campaign ads still on the air? Check.

  • Online fundraising still operational? Check.

  • Still meeting with campaign manager? Check.

  • Campaign offices open for business? Check.

  • VP running mate still out campaigning? Check. Check.

The Obama campaign is on it. This from a campaign memo:

So make no mistake: John McCain did not "suspend" his campaign.  He just turned a national crisis into an occasion to promote his campaign.  It's become just another political stunt, aimed more at shoring up the Senator's aimed more at shoring up the Senator's political fortunes than the nation's economy.  And it does nothing to help advance this critical legislation to protect the American people during this time of economic crisis.

A pretty obvious conclusion to make, right? Now if only the press would report on it.

In fairness, not everyone is AWOL on this. The Politico's Jonathan Martin observes:

But it's increasingly implausible to think that what he's doing is anything different than he'd be doing on the campaign trail, except he's in person now instead of on his cell phone.

The New York Times' Caucus blog asks in an update:

Has the McCain-Palin campaign really been put on hold?

And even FoxNews seems to register some cognitive dissonance when they report that:

John McCain may have suspended his presidential campaign as of Thursday morning, but an appearance at President Clinton's Global Initiative forum and his campaign's releasing its daily note to reporters gave the Republican candidate a few remaining opportunities to weigh in politically on a proposed Wall Street bailout."

Are you seeing coverage of this anywhere else?



Display:


Re: So When You Say "Suspending..." (none / 0)


Tonight, the Obama campaign unleashed an entire memo seeking to debunk that McCain had actually suspended his campaign.

"In fact, he's been in full campaign mode the entire time," Burton wrote.

"Instead of heading to Washington right away, Senator McCain stuck around in New York to do TV interviews, spend the night, and give a scheduled speech. Though the McCain campaign announced yesterday that they were also 'suspending' their attack ads, they continued to run Thursday.

"When McCain finally arrived in Washington, almost twenty-four hours after his announcement - and after Congressional leadership announced a deal in principle - he huddled with his lobbyist campaign advisors while his running mate held a political rally and his political spokesmen and surrogates were out in full force, continuing to attack Barack Obama."

Foon Rhee - Depends on your defintion of suspend Boston Globe 25 Sep 08


by Shaun Appleby on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 09:09:25 PM EST

These guys are an embarassment. (none / 0)

I was just in D.C for Business, so that makes me qualified to run for congress.  

Sarah Palin is out to lunch.


by nzubechukwu on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 09:28:50 PM EST

Re: So When You Say "Suspending..." (none / 0)

Toobin, on CNN, mentioned how ridiculous it was. Wolfie of course made excuses for the serial adulterer.

Side note, Moscow is closer to New York than Alaska. Governor Patterson can brief Palin on Russia!!


by alectimmerman on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 09:31:46 PM EST

Re: So When You Say "Suspending..." (none / 0)

Haha!!! I voted for Kerry last time out, I can NOW run for his seat in MA.


by nzubechukwu on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 10:09:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So When You Say "Suspending..." (none / 0)

Alectim, I got one better for you.  Patterson can brief Palin about Russia because he can "see inside his soul and SEE that he is a good man."  
You've got to be **ing kidding.  What a joke.
by nzubechukwu on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 10:11:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So When You Say "Suspending..." (none / 0)

At least Toobin has the guts to tell the truth.  Wolf tried to talk him down off the truth ledge but Toobin would have none of it, and jumped.  



"The best way to show that a stick is crooked is not by arguing about it or spending time denouncing it, but to lay a straight stick alongside it" -DL Moody
by nextgen on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 10:49:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Begala nailed their asses on CNN... (none / 0)

...for this very matter, around 6:30pm EST tonight. Pure, unadulterated b.s.


by bobswern on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 09:55:25 PM EST

Ego (none / 0)

Am I not the only one who suspects McCain has a huge ego?  It's all about him.

One of my biggest disappointments of the Obama campaign has been the unwillingness to go after McCain and make him the issue, not Obama.


by esconded on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 10:21:25 PM EST

Re: It's DEAD (none / 0)

NYT coverage of the talks today....

"In the Roosevelt Room after the session, the Treasury secretary, Henry M. Paulson Jr. literally bent down on one knee as he pleaded with Nancy Pelosi, the House Speaker, not to "blow it up" by withdrawing her party's support for the package over what Ms. Pelosi derided as a Republican betrayal.

"I didn't know you were Catholic," Ms. Pelosi said, a wry reference to Mr. Paulson's kneeling, according to someone who observed the exchange. She went on: "It's not me blowing this up, it's the Republicans."

Mr. Paulson sighed. "I know. I know."

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/busine ss/26bailout.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1& amp;hp

Is it just me or are things getting awfully weird?


by mady on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 10:41:34 PM EST

Re: It's DEAD (none / 0)

Is this an Onion article or the truth?


by agpc on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 10:50:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's DEAD (none / 0)

Sigh.  You'd think, huh?


by mady on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 10:53:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's DEAD (none / 0)

Good for Nancy... the GOP wants us to take the blame for the mess... screw them... let the republicans rot on this...


"This was never part of our arrangement, Specter" "I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!" "This deal keeps getting worse all the time!"
by LordMike on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 11:22:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: At this point I'm inclined to say.... (none / 0)

I know... it's going to cost me a fortune, but, sometimes the only way for people to learn is to experience the consequences of their actions... i.e. voting for Republicans.


"This was never part of our arrangement, Specter" "I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!" "This deal keeps getting worse all the time!"
by LordMike on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 11:56:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: At this point I'm inclined to say.... (none / 0)

"America hasn't suffered enough, that's why they continue to vote for Republicans."


by nzubechukwu on Fri Sep 26, 2008 at 07:23:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: At this point I'm inclined to say.... (none / 0)

Sometimes it is a good feeling not to have much money, rarely, but this week is one of those times.  


by mady on Fri Sep 26, 2008 at 12:13:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So When You Say "Suspending..." (none / 0)

McCain is done.  He knows it.  Obama wins in a landslide.  Now is the time to demonstrate that McCain might be old enough to die while in office, but his actions are extremely childish.  Obama is the Adult in this campaign.

McCain is the guy who decided advertisements about celebrities were more important than the economy.


by agpc on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 10:49:34 PM EST

Give me a break (none / 0)

If Obama wanted to suspend his campaign to focus on the destruction of our economy, please tell me what all of your reactions would be....

i'm waiting....

of course. It would be that Obama is a true patriot and McCain is just a sleazy politician that wants to win an election.

Extreme is bad, and this is getting extreme.


by coolit on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 10:59:40 PM EST

Re: Give me a break (none / 0)

Thanks for your conjecture, troll.

McSame is the only one pulling cheap political stunts here.  Again, thanks.


Howard Dean is my go-to guy
by lojasmo on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 11:12:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Let's get real (none / 0)

This is your second comment.  Here is you defending Palin:

as someone who has always, and I mean always, voted democrat.... ridiculing people for mistakes is not gonna make me vote dem this year.

In the same comment:

I may not vote dem because they have controlled congress and have failed on every single big issue.

No one believes you're here for progressive causes.  Here is me responding to you:

Go eat a turd.


Change has come to America.
by the mystical vortexes of sedona on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 11:12:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Let's get real (none / 0)

You are extreme.  It is amazing how you falsely define me and then smear that falsehood.

I never defended Palin, I despise Democrats that want to win by tearing down our opponent.

I will defend the notion that Democrats wooshed into power 2 years ago in congress and completely sold us out, they flopped, they gave everything to Bush.

I love how you guys call disagreement "troll, and turd"

So get real and start smearing and stirring up hysteria about your opponent.  It worked great against Clinton and will probably work against McCain.  And live with the precedent that it sets.


by coolit on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 11:24:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Let's get real (none / 0)

It sounds like your pretty upset about Democrats "tearing down" Republicans.  You sound "concerned" even.


Change has come to America.
by the mystical vortexes of sedona on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 11:36:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Let's get real (none / 0)

Yes. I am concerned that I have no party to support.  I am concerned that I am urged to support the lesser of two evils.  I am concerned that I hate the way democrats AND republicans operate.

I am disgusted that I love and get involved with issues to make our country a better place to live yet we have a system that only lets us vote A or B. Well, I think A and B both suck.  

That sucks.  Sorry it doesn't fit into your angry, attack dog, vengeful idea of the way it has to be.

Stop calling me a republican.  It's annoying.


by coolit on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 11:55:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Let's get real (none / 0)

Sounds like the poor poor baby needs a trip to NaderLand


Oh Mammy Dear, we're all mad over here livin' in America
by JDF on Fri Sep 26, 2008 at 12:02:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Let's get real (none / 0)

You are just not believable.

This stunt from McCain is purely political.  He said he's suspending his campaign and he clearly hasn't.  You said it was "extreme" to note this and that we shouldn't be so hard on Palin.  Those are not the words of a "lifelong Democrat" who has been paying attention for the past 8 years.  

No one believes you, troll.  Go eat a turd.


Change has come to America.
by the mystical vortexes of sedona on Fri Sep 26, 2008 at 12:17:02 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Let's get real (none / 0)

Then vote for Barr or Nader or run for office yourself.  Those are your options.


by ProgressiveDL on Fri Sep 26, 2008 at 12:19:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So When You Say "Suspending..." (none / 0)

I once lived in the busiest freshwater port in the world.  I should be Sec. Commerce.


Howard Dean is my go-to guy
by lojasmo on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 11:06:14 PM EST

Tomorrows Debate Seems Unlikely (none / 0)

Bailout talks collapsed today as House Republicans walk out of the talks.


Dizzy Zzyzzy
by Zzyzzy on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 11:12:38 PM EST

AP has a story out about it (none / 0)

Check Americablog for link.


by Lolis on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 11:15:09 PM EST

Re: It's DEAD (none / 0)

Doubtful.... it will make him into a populist hero for standing up against government tax giveaways...

That is, of course, as long as the financial collapse doesn't trickle down to main street within a month.

Most ordinary people don't think there's a crisis... hell, most progressives don't think there's a crisis...

There IS a crisis... another bank failed today... that's not some made up thing...

We'll see what happens... looking at Intrade, Obama won yesterday and McCain won today...

At least Democrats are not falling into the trap of letting them get blamed for the bailout.  This is a republican mess, they should take responsibility....


"This was never part of our arrangement, Specter" "I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!" "This deal keeps getting worse all the time!"
by LordMike on Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 11:20:09 PM EST

Re: So When You Say "Suspending..." (none / 0)

The best part about this isn't that McCain is being a drama queen, nor is it that he's covering for Palin.  McCain is trying to show he's the leader of his party, and they're abandoning him.

To the House and (a lesser extent because most of them aren't up for re-election) Senate Republicans, they're being asked to betray their conservative goals to the same guy who's been spending two years campaigning on how he's different and better than them, and 24 years before that being a thorn in their side.  

Now, they've lost the majority, due in no small part to McCain. Plus, it's a certainty that they're losing at least 5 more seats, putting a filibuster-proof Democratic Senate only one election away.  Either way, both the House and Senate Republicans are screwed for the next 4 years, because even if McCain wins, he's essentially a lame duck from the get go.

Mark my words, this is McCain's last, desperate hope.  If he can't unite his party and keep them from buckling, he'll be a broken man.  That doesn't necessarily mean he'll lose, but it makes it a damn sight easier.


by zombieflanders on Fri Sep 26, 2008 at 12:07:09 AM EST

Keep it short (none / 0)

On the off chance McCain doesn't show up tomorrow evening, I have just one request for Obama. Keep it short. I enjoy listening to him some of the time. His acceptance speech was one of the best political speeches of the past fifty years.

An hour tomorrow evening would be the outside acceptable limit. It would be better, if Obama were the only one who showed up, for it to last 30 or 40 minutes. At the forty minute mark, Obama would impress me if he said, "look, the American people know who I am and where I stand and I appreciate their support...but this was supposed to be a debate."

He could end it there, let the jackasses of the pundrity take the entertainment fully forward from the ridiculous into comedy and it'll be a fun night.

I doubt it'll happen that McCain won't show up, but if it's going to be wierd theatre tomorrow night, then Obama would do well to keep it short and leave us wanting more.


by NealB on Fri Sep 26, 2008 at 12:30:59 AM EST


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