McCain Running Ads Saturday Morning, But Not Debating Friday Night?
The last thing you need is more evidence that McCain's campaigns suspension is a big sham. But I want to revisit what we reported last night: In particular, Obama spokesperson Bill Burton tells us that the McCain campaign is instructing TV stations to start running his ads again on Saturday.
This info -- which is presumably based on what Obama's media buyers are hearing from the stations -- seems pretty important. After all, McCain had said he would suspend his campaign until the bailout debate is resolved. McCain, of course, has no way of knowing if it'll be resolved by Saturday, but his campaign is apparently resuming his ad campaign anyway.
This would seem to be the clearest illustration yet that McCain's "suspension" qualifies as one of the silliest stunts ever attempted in presidential politics. If McCain can run ads on Saturday morning, whether or not the bailout package is agreed upon, what conceivable justification is there for not debating 12 hours earlier?
This is the most incoherrent, irresponsible shit show Washington has seen in a long, long time. What a loser. McCain's display yesterday: Epic. Fail.
Pufferfish
September 26, 2008 9:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
...in the eyes of the average TPM reader...
September 26, 2008 10:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, that's a fair comment in the abstract, but why don't you tell us your analysis since you seem to disagree? McCain did pretty well for himself, did he? Did you catch Letterman by any chance?
September 26, 2008 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Did you catch Letterman by any chance?"
Nope, I was was watching USC get spanked...not that I would go to Letterman for political coverage...
September 26, 2008 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Great. Now reply to the rest of his/her questions.
September 26, 2008 10:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, to not respond as quickly as you would like....I am at work. As for the rest of the questio:
"This info -- which is presumably based on what Obama's media buyers are hearing from the stations -- " I'm taking the watch and see approach. It's more believable to me that "Obama's buyers" are making stuff up (much like the "Deal" that was reached between house and Senate Dems, was I the only one who read that article and noticed "Repulicans" weren't a part of any announced deal?).
September 26, 2008 10:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes. Bob Bennett, the Republican Senator from Utah was part of the announcement. In addition. Lamar Alexander has said that 40 of his fellow Republican senators were prepared to vote for the deal.
September 26, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
"has said that 40 of his fellow Republican senators were prepared to vote for the deal."
Then it's a done deal...simple majority in the house...41 Republican Senators...that's 93 to 7...sign the deal...what's holding Harry and Nancy back?
September 26, 2008 10:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's the House Republicans. The ones who can't stand McCain. What amazing leadership skills he showed yesterday.....sat in a meeting and didn't say a word. I can do that. Can I be POTUS?
September 26, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
...again...not a single House Republican vote is required for the plan to pass....why won't Nancy and Harry run with it?
September 26, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Because Boehner and Pelosi struck a deal that a minimum of 100 house Republicans would have to vote for the deal. It's supposed to be entirely bi-partisan to avoid election day poiticking. I guess McCain ruined that, too.
September 26, 2008 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Beats the hell out of the MSM...
September 26, 2008 10:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly how did McCain NOT just publicly drop a stinking load over the past few days?
September 26, 2008 10:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Professional Assessment here:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/a-woman-has-to-say-it-mccain-m.php
Please recommend if you think this describes what's going on!
September 26, 2008 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
September 26, 2008 9:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
It depends on the what the meaning of the word "suspend" is, doesn't it?
Do we have any indication yet whether the average Joe out there is buying this crap? Has anyone polled on the question, "Do you believe John McCain is setting aside politics to work on the economic crisis, or is McCain using the crisis to his political advantage?" Or some such question.
I just can't believe this will work, but I'm not an average consumer of the news.
-- ARG
September 26, 2008 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
It depends on the what the meaning of the word "suspend" is, doesn't it?
Exactly! McCain "suspended" his campaign like David Blaine suspended himself in New York, meaning he dangled it above us so that more people would see it! It all makes sense now!
September 26, 2008 10:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
This probably means that McCain will be debating tonight, and is stringing us all along in order to maximize attention to his gracious decision to debate. Gone from the TM will be Palin's interview, campaign connections to Fannie/Freddy, etc.
September 26, 2008 9:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Greg, I didn't see your post from last night until this morning and commented that the ads never stopped in PA. One other person commented that they continued in the Midwest as well. I asked for a consensus on exactly in how many states did the ads continue but nobody answered yet. This seems to me to be pretty good proof of this suspension sham. I read another story elsewhere in which several campaign operatives around the country didn't seem to know about it and continued business as usual. McCain needs to be called out on this. I sent an e-mail to the AP alerting them to the fact the ads stayed up here in PA.
September 26, 2008 9:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Of COURSE it's a sham and a scam.
But the SCUM won't ("can't") say so.
But the whole exercise is a sham and a scam.
The whole "crisis' is manufactured, the product of the rich elitocrats reining in the pretensions of the rest of us.
It's their way of saying, "So you think you're so fucking smart? Eat this?" and reeling back in the 'properties' they've permitted to be temporarily leased by the lower orders in order to dissipate any anti-Elite feeling.
Apparently, they figure this has gone on long enough, and the peons need to feel the lash...
September 26, 2008 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
This isn't a rhetorical question. Aren't there some Big White Daddies in the GOP, the James Bakers, the what-have-yous, who should be poised right about now to go to McCain as a group to tell the POW Senator that his fight is over, the way Goldwater et al did with Nixon?
September 26, 2008 10:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
IF he doesn't already know that - then telling him is not going to help.
It's like when they kept telling Hillary it was over and she kept right on pretending it wasn't.
Like Hillary, however, I think McLame is running out of money.
September 26, 2008 10:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yep, it's right up there with choosing a completely unqualified beauty pageant moose hunter for your running mate.
McLame ain't running a campaign - he's running a circus.
September 26, 2008 10:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Looking back over the last month of this particular big top - you start to get the sense that at some point over the summer Senator McCain became somewhat aquatinted with the amount of actual work he'd have to do it he managed to pull this off.
He can't come out and say it, of course. But looking back over these antics with a He Obviously Doesn't Want the Job eye certainly seems to explain the Senator's M.O. better than trying to ascribe some sort of logic to the strategic and electoral trainwreck we're watching.
September 26, 2008 11:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Eh? My comment got held for approval?
September 26, 2008 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
It happens. Just resubmit it.
September 26, 2008 10:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
If McCain doesn't show it'll become an Obama town hall: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/26/debate.mississippi/index.html
September 26, 2008 10:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Like a fish out of water. Flailing about aimlessly. And hopefully, about to die (politically-speaking, of course).
September 26, 2008 10:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
...Obama at a townhall?
September 26, 2008 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
How about Palin trying to answer a question?
September 26, 2008 10:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
...she did sound almost as bad as Obama on that one question...
September 26, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sure thing. At least between Obama's "umms" there are words that make sense.
She's starting to make W look like a genius.
September 26, 2008 11:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
He'll be there at the debate. This is designed to increase viewership and cable news attention on McCain when he does show up.
September 26, 2008 10:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
How can you possibly imagine that there is any design here?
September 26, 2008 10:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
I know how Republicans work--I've observed their nasty asses in D.C. since 2003.
September 26, 2008 10:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
And I've been in Timbuctu all that time? I didn't live in Texas where Bush was governor?
Where can I take advantage of your special knowledge of the GOP? Do you print pamphlets? I'm interested in your ideas, perhaps you can leave some literature...
September 26, 2008 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
I lived in Texas too. How can anyone forget Governor Bush doing a "Jesus Day?"
September 26, 2008 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sorry, but this was in no way a grand plan by McCain to increase attention to the debates. It was an impulsive decision to try and and change the subject (Palin, Davis, sinking polls) and make himself the center of all of the drama. He's not happy any other way.
September 26, 2008 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you.
There's absolutely no plan here. McLame couldn't plan a picnic and follow through at this point.
September 26, 2008 10:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
I was playing a fun little cynical with myself on my way into work this morning, trying to imagine what would have to be revealed about Obama that would make me not vote for him at this point.
I don't think I want to admit how far it went.
September 26, 2008 10:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
agreed. 'dead girl, live boy' doesn't seem quite the deal breaker it normally would be.
September 26, 2008 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
LOL. Exactly.
September 26, 2008 10:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yup! You is right!
September 26, 2008 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
I get the feeling this will get cited in a Bill Kristol editorial next week. "Yesterday, the Pro-Obama publication The Internet was quoted as saying..."
September 26, 2008 10:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think a goat would have to be involved... And even then it would probably have to be a dead goat...
September 26, 2008 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
O man - but a good goat will do that.
(that's the punchline to a joke - )
September 26, 2008 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
I decided he'd have to have eaten a lot of babies.
Recently.
September 26, 2008 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Jessie's parents are out of town so she's having this HUGE party and everyone's going to be there, even Tommy Willis and he's like the dreamiest and oh my God, you just wouldn't understand! I hate you! I wish I was eighteen so I could move out!
September 26, 2008 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like the way CNN Ticker puts it:
"The difference between a suspended campaign and a full campaign is starting to look a lot like the distinction between a speed walk and a slow jog: to the untrained eye, the pace seems about the same."
September 26, 2008 10:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!
The past week sure put the "interesting" in interesting times.
September 26, 2008 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
I missed Oilbama's position on ending the Bailout crisis. What is his position? I mean besides whining that it is other peoples fault and placing blame everywhere possible, what is Oilbama's solution to this mess? The wheels came off when Democrats controlled Congress ignored repeated warnings from Bernake and Paulson about the impending crisis. Try to sell that.
Then there is the matter of the money the Messiah chosen one, Oilbama, pocketed over the last four years. Why did Oilbama take more money from Fannie Mae than any legistlator other than Senators Dodd and Kerry?
I mean it is like when Oilbama votes for the Bush Cheney Energy Bill that gave away Billions of taxpayer money to Big Oil and then pretends to tale no money from Oil Lobbyists.
September 26, 2008 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
YOu are the epitome of FOOL.
Obama laid out his ideas on how to fix this. He and McLame issued a joint statement on it yesterday and Obama appended 5 points to the statement laying out his view on solving this.
You are a liar, a spammer, a racist and a stupid motherfucker.
September 26, 2008 10:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yup, and he smells. Even through the internets.
September 26, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
On top of that he fucked up my morning genuflection upon the majesty of Obama. :)
September 26, 2008 10:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
HusseinTenaX, do not take this the wrong way but saying "The past week sure put the "interesting" in interesting times" may be the dumbest thing I have ever heard.
September 26, 2008 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Coming from you -
dude.
September 26, 2008 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obviously Dem Bill C didn't watch the Palin interview with Couric.
September 26, 2008 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
please spare us you racist pig
September 26, 2008 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obviously you don't listen to yourself.
September 26, 2008 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sounds like you haven't broken open enough fortune cookies, troll.
September 26, 2008 11:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just watched that John Harwood clip from CNBC. That's going to hurt McCain. The CNBC crowd are all the "my money first" people that are not going to be happy if it looks like McCain is messing things up.
September 26, 2008 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
What clip?
September 26, 2008 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
The one on the front page of TPM.
September 26, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
McInsane lost the Boner . . .
When asked iwherher McInsane's presence would Republicants onboard for the bail-out . . . The top House REP and McInsane best boy buddy shrugged physically and verbally.
September 26, 2008 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well I tell you what, McLame fiddles around enough, obstructing any kind of plan to shore up the economy and things slide further, he'll be lucky if people don't come for him with torches and pitchforks.
This is really dumb - the GOP is obstructing getting this thing back on track - that cannot be going over well with voters. It sure isn't going over well with me.
The only saving grace here is that this is a Friday. If it was Monday I'd be scared shitless. I'm extremely concerned about a panic because that is the one thing that will send this economy into the abyss. I do not believe the FDIC can cover all the accounts its supposed to insure.
September 26, 2008 10:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think they're fighting the last battle. The initial polling showed that a large majority were opposed to a bailout, so they believed they could ride back from electoral defeat by "saving" the taxpayers from this wasteful spending. (If it's a choice between a politically difficult action for the good of the country and screwing the country for electoral gain, there's no question which way "movement conservatives" will jump.)
As the (mostly Democratic) pushback has played out and it's not a "blank check," public support may have shifted (hard to judge for sure, since as Kos showed yesterday, the polling is highly dependent on how the question is worded), and they may be screwing themselves by scuttling a bitter pill that braver politicians were willing to swallow for the common good, and on top of it, their alternative solution is "more tax cuts for the rich!"
September 26, 2008 11:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sick of McCain's crap. To paraphrase Lincoln, "fervently we pray – that this mighty scourge of lameness may speedily pass away."
September 26, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. Infantile obstructionist narcissistic psycho motherfucker. Once you start making President Blutarski look like he has gravitas (well, let's not get carried away) you deserve those torches and pitchforks.
September 26, 2008 11:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Back to the topic at hand . . . More people will watch the debate if McInsane no shows . . . McInsane's attempt at holding democracy hostage NEEDs to fail.
September 26, 2008 10:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like that-"holding democracy hostage".
September 26, 2008 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rass has Obama at 50?!!!! up 5? Heckuva job, Johnny...
September 26, 2008 10:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Somewhat OT, but has anybody noticed that David Brooks actually out-douchebagged himself on today's NY Times op-ed page? I like when someone can rise to a challenge.
September 26, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
They a running fast a furious in Colorado. It may have dropped from 3 and hour to 2. And the 527's don't seem to be going along with the "headman's" wishes either.
September 26, 2008 11:40 AM | Reply | Permalink