VP debate postponed?

This really isn't shocking, given how woefully ill prepared Palin is for a debate, but it blows my mind anyway.  McCain camp is suggesting to move the 1st Presidential debate to the VP debate slot IF the bailout deal is not resolved before friday.  Given McCain is now in Washington, I am fairly certain the bailout will not be resolved by Friday.  It is so disappointing that they are using this crisis to play politics.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

McCain camp to propose postponing VP debate Posted: 09:30 AM ET
Biden and Palin are set to debate October 2. (CNN) — McCain supporter Sen. Lindsey Graham tells CNN the McCain campaign is proposing to the Presidential Debate Commission and the Obama camp that if there's no bailout deal by Friday, the first presidential debate should take the place of the VP debate, currently scheduled for next Thursday, October 2 in St. Louis.

In this scenario, the vice presidential debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin would be rescheduled for a date yet to be determined, and take place in Oxford, Mississippi, currently slated to be the site of the first presidential faceoff this Friday.

Graham says the McCain camp is well aware of the position of the Obama campaign and the debate commission that the debate should go on as planned — but both he and another senior McCain adviser insist the Republican nominee will not go to the debate Friday if there's no deal on the bailout.

I'm not surprised at all. It's all downhill from here.

As much as I would like to give McCain the benefit of the doubt, this still comes off as a polical ploy, IMO.  His call comes at a very convenient time in the polls when he has lost the post-convention bounce.

I heard about this on MSNBC and CNN yesterday evening. It really doesn't come as a surprise, as Santo said. Depending on which poll you look at, McCain is 3-10 points down from Obama... he's pulling all the stops now. I think it's ridiculous and things should commence as planned.

#2:
At first I thought the McCain announcement to stop campaigning was simply to generate media attention and deflect attention from Palin's poor interviews.  Although, I still think this, it makes more sense it was all about postponing the VP debate from the outset.  I find it sad that Americans will fall for this political tactic and will talk about his leadership.  Crazy!

I love Obama's response regarding this:

""it is my belief that this exactly time that the American people need to hear from the person who, in approximately 40 days, will be responsible for dealing with this mess... It is going to be part of the president's job to deal with more than one problem at once....In my mind, it's more important than ever that we try to present ourselves to the American people.''

Yes.. Mr. McCain, multi-tasking might be tough, but ya gotta learn to juggle issues if you want to be president.

great point, ali.  not to mention the fact that a crisis is exactly when the VP will be required to step up and...um...do something besides smile and look pretty.

"When one of them becomes President, he won't have the luxury of pressing the "pause" button at the next crisis."

Original Post by alle0299:

I love Obama's response regarding this:

""it is my belief that this exactly time that the American people need to hear from the person who, in approximately 40 days, will be responsible for dealing with this mess... It is going to be part of the president's job to deal with more than one problem at once....In my mind, it's more important than ever that we try to present ourselves to the American people.''

Yes.. Mr. McCain, multi-tasking might be tough, but ya gotta learn to juggle issues if you want to be president.

 I liked that response, too

Exactly what I had hoped and expected Obama would say.

McCain's playing politics pure and simple. He obviously knew the president was going to extend that invitaton in his speech, and was trying to get some mileage out of it.

Uhmm even George W found the time to debate Kerry in 2004, and he WAS president. So anyone who buys into McCains bologna is an idiot.... this is just a washington photo-op for him....

This is kind of on topic - did anyone see Letterman last night after McCain bailed on him?

It was funny - he kept asking why the VP candidate couldn't continue campaigning since she is the only candidate that does not have to go to the White House.

But in such a tone that you knew why she couldn't.  ;-)

Yes glinda! Hahaha Letterman was so pissed, soooo funny!

Original Post by glinda:

This is kind of on topic - did anyone see Letterman last night after McCain bailed on him?

It was funny - he kept asking why the VP candidate couldn't continue campaigning since she is the only candidate that does not have to go to the White House.

But in such a tone that you knew why she couldn't.  ;-)

 Oh hell that was so dang funny. "HEY JOHN NEED A RIDE TO THE AIRPORT" "oh where is Sarah. that's right, she's driving the minivan around the block waiting to pick up John"

When you can't walk and chew gum at the same time, life is so hard.  Refusal to debate is going to hurt McCain-Palin big time.

As for Letterman - he was downright vindictive!  Don't mess around with Dave!

For those who didn't see it - here and here are texts and reaction to some of it.

"Top Ten

Of course it wouldn’t be a David Letterman show without a “Top Ten List.” And last night’s expectedly was aimed at John McCain.

The Top Ten Questions People are Asking The John McCain Campaign

10. “I just contributed to your campaign - how do I get a refund?

9. “It’s Sarah Palin - does this mean I’m pars’dent?”

8. “Can’t you solve this by selling some of your houses?”

7. “This is Clay Aiken. Is McCain single?”

6. “Do you still think the fundamentals of our economy are strong, Genius?”

5. “Are you doing all of this just to get out of going on Letterman?”

4. “What would Matlock do?”

3. “Hillary here - my schedule is free Friday night.”

2. “Is this just an excuse to catch up on napping?”

1. “This is President Bush - what’s all this trouble with the economy?”

hahaha amazing. Thanks for the link, glinda.

http://lateshow.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/

On the right is a box you can click to watch the video from last night.

Aren't McCain and Obama both heading to Washington to help work on this bailout issue?

From what I've read, Congress is a mess when it comes to this issue.  I'm curious to know how people would respond if it had been Obama who decided to cancel the debate to go help out with this mess in Washington.

I really need to go find the article, but I've also read that alot of the Democrats were upset that more of the Republicans were not going to be present to vote for this issue.

I would be just as upset if Obama cancelled the debate. The point is that to be president you need to be able to multi-task. There's no reason why McCain couldn't have gone to DC, help get this passed, have Palin continue the campaign and then do the debate Friday night.
I've had MSNBC on all day and Obama isn't going to DC unless they need his vote. He's agreed to meet with Bush and he's continuing his campaign and is ready for the debate tomorrow. edit: And if Obama and McCain are so badly needed at the Senate for this bailout deal, then why can't the pres and VP debates be switched? Palin should be ready by now...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26885268

I'm guessing it might still happen?