Where to begin … where to begin …
Well, let’s skip talking about Palin (for a few paragraphs), and talk about the crazy-ass “McCain, on the ropes, calls for a time out, but only for really-truly noble reasons” tale.
Y’know, if McCain had a reputation for nobility, for true bipartisanship, for profound and engaged leadership, especially when it comes to the economy and providing a wise, sane, regulatory oversight of the markets … then this might make sense. “This looks like a job for … SuperJohn!”
But given that McCain has been absent from voting since April, that he confesses he’s vague on a lot of economic issues, that his campaign guru (Phil Gramm) is a key conspirator in removing the regulatory dampers that would have prevented this melt-down … and that “the only thing that’s changed in the last 48 hours is the polls” … this particular tactic can only be interpreted as a desperate attempt to (a) save advertising money, (b) disrupt the steady Obama surge in the polls, (c) try to come off as super-leadery, (d) duck out of a debate that would demonstrate how shaky (“Zapatero!”) his foreign policy knowledge is.
At least a few of the commentators out there are aware of this less-than-noble motivation. Whether it’s noting that taking one’s ball and going home is hardly a mark of a leader, that the Real World doesn’t allow Presidents to declare “time out,” or wondering what else McCain would put off in case of a crisis, the idea that we cannot have both campaign engagement and debate and deal with economic and political issues at the same time holds no water. After all, even Bush managed to wage a War on Terror while fending off Kerry four years ago.
Indeed, it appears that the Democrats are not taking the bait, and are still considering the campaign, and debate, to be “on.” Not because it will help help Ole Miss (You spent millions of dollars to host this? Idiots!), but because if you let your opponent dictate the ground of battle an the initiative, you’re seriously Sun Tzcrewed.
Actually, I think we’ve learned the real reason for the debate delay. The McCain camp now seems to be suggesting that it can be put off until 2 October, which had been the date of the VP debate, which they suggest can be scheduled for some time in the (distant) future. If I were Sarah Palin I would throw up my hands in disgust, accuse the McCain campaign of sexism and anti-Pentecostalism for keeping her under wraps (despite claims that it’s allowing “America to vet her“), and retire back to Alaska to bask in the glory of the Right for the next few decades — because she’s damn-sure not going to end this campaign covered in glory.
Not that one can necessarily expect televised debates to actually be meaningful. But it’s at least symbolically important.
Speaking of Palin — if you’re still confused about where she’s cooperating and where she’s stonewalling, the answer is simple: if the investigators are part of a bi-partisan effort that she originally agreed to (as opposed to an investigation by folks she personally appointed), then it’s stonewall-fodder.
Oh well, John, don’t worry — I’m sure you will still have the support of your key demographic. Even if it’s tough to figure out how how McCain remains a maverick.
As opposed to Biden who’s outspoken gaffes make him a true maverick (if not loose cannon). Regardless, he’s doing a fine job providing an informed critique of McCain’s foreign policy competency. Go, Joe!
On the Obama side of the campaign, he’s facing an amazing series of smears, from (yet again) arguments why he’s not a real Christian (by which definition, neither am I, for what it’s worth), to accusations of not being black but being (yes, it’s Rush) Arab (it’s foreign, deceptive, and Muslim! Eek!), to whatever feeble innuendo can be dredged up from his past. And, of course, he’s laboring under the disadvantage of not having a president manipulating war news in his favor.
Still, it makes sense that Obama is scaling back his 50-State strategy — the grass roots are either established or foolhardy at the moment. There are plenty of other ways to wisely spend money.
And, I’m gratified in the way, after an earlier report of the less-than-edifying participation in the “Faith, Family, Values Tour,” the Obama campaign has actually figured, no, that’s not a very good idea.
And so it goes.