Today was Obama’s Katrina moment and an example of great leadership by John McCain. This contrast was telling and will matter.
That would be true, if the media actually covered it, even in a perfunctory way, much less the way they hammered us with babies-raped and cannibalism and Bush-hates-black-folks Katrina stories. But that’ll never happen.
That’s hilarious – McCain suspended his campaign, except to the extent that he was still campaigning and running political ads today. He eventually rushed back to Washington in time for a photo op, once the actual negotiation was pretty much complete. Actually that is a sign of leadership that Bush could learn from – McCain realizes he doesn’t know that much about economics, so he’s wisely staying out of the way.
Paul, I don’t know where you get your information, but according to every major media outlet and top blogger, there is still no deal. Furthermore, people on both sides of the aisle (including Harry Reid, though he’s now backtracking) insisted that McCain be a critical player in this.
I wasn’t implying that the deal is done, just that the politicians in Washington are working on this and seem to have got close to a deal without needing McCain (or Obama). On whether McCain is needed, well the Dems have said he needs to vote yes, but that’s a political move (they’re not going to pass something that will probably be unpopular and then have McCain campaign on having voted against it). I’m sure at least some Republicans have said he needs to be there, but again that’s as much a political thing as a practical one. And then there’s this quote via ThinkProgress:
The simple fact is that McCain is one Senator, and right now any more role he has than that is focused on avoiding blame and taking credit for anything that happens. Obama is in exactly the same situation. Either one can *show* all the leadership they want, neither one is actually *exercising* it because they’re not in a position to.
I already heartily dislike McCain, but I would dislike him even more if he just sat back and didn’t take a key role in this. The fact is, by their presidential nominations, both Obama and McCain are the heads of their parties. Obama – who in particular brags about how he can drag consensus out of the most hostile people – and McCain ought to be right in the middle of this; if not formulating the bailout, then rallying their parties to it. (Since they both seem to agree that a bailout should occur.) The FIRST paragraph of the article you quoted states:
Quite a different picture than the one Thinkprogress states, eh? Why didn’t you just reference the Time article?
I didn’t quote the Time article because I wanted you to see the left-wing source that I was relying on
But thanks for highlighting my point even more with your quote; McCain and Obama* by their presidential nominations can’t help but be mired in political debate. Nothing they can do at the moment can rise above that, because that is their entire purpose, and so it should be.
Incidentally, have you seen any evidence apart from wanting to avoid the debate that McCain’s campaign actually has been suspended? Because pretty reputable places like TPM are spotting all manner of McCain people campaigning pretty noticeably. Personally I think that makes McCain a straight-out liar. I know that’s a quality you dislike in Obama, and at least some of the time I agree with you. Want to join my side on McCain’s lie this time?
*Please note I’m trying to be non-partisan here – I don’t think Obama is behaving as badly as McCain, but it’s what’s being done, not who’s doing it, that I have a problem with.
Boy, I hate to double-post, but…
According to Politico both candidates are (or presumable were, by now) appearing on all 3 networks tonight. That could be demonstrating leadership, of course, but I tend to think it’s perhaps a teeny bit more about politics.