The point of John McCain’s coming back to Washington was for him to show leadership during a crisis, but McCain’s return has revealed him to be unable to lead. Even more damning, the Republican presidential candidate has not even taken a position on the issue of a federal bailout for Wall Street.
McCain has opened himself up to a round of criticism on both sides. The House Republicans who are trying to kill the bill would nothing more than for McCain to either lead their cause, or offer an alternative of his own, but he has done neither. His own Senate Republicans are already on board with the plan, so they don’t need his input. The bill has bipartisan support without him. Not even the largest bank failure in American history can move John McCain to take a public stand on the issue.
Let me be clear, I don’t care what position John McCain takes. If he really is a leader, then he needs to lead. President Bush has been doing his best to keep the markets afloat by promising that a package will be passed, but it appears that all John McCain has done is get in the way. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said this morning that President Bush should, “respectfully tell Sen. McCain to get out of town. He is not helping, he is harming. Before Sen. McCain made his announcement, we were making progress.”
The problem McCain faces is in part the institutional barrier between the House and Senate. McCain may be the leader of his party, but he is also a senator, and senators have little influence on the other side of the Hill. McCain did meet with Republican Minority Leader John Boehner this morning, but it is uncertain if he is leading an effort, proposing an alternative, or getting updates on the situation.
My guess is that if McCain had an alternative, he would be talking about it.
McCain’s position is confusing, incoherent, and largely unknown. He has shifted his position on the economy and the bailout at least 5 times in the past 10 days.
He is not exhibiting presidential leadership. He has the look of a candidate caught in a trap of his own making. McCain is going to Mississippi tonight, and we have a presidential debate, but I doubt that McCain will announce a clear position on the issue. Instead of making him look like a leader, McCain latest gamble may have cost him this election.
Interestingly, the only people who can save John McCain from his horrible strategic blunder are the House Republicans who have shown little interest in helping their own president over the last five years, much less a senator who happens to be their current nominee.
Who would have guessed on Monday that the fate of John McCain’s campaign may be in the hands of a group of Republican ideologues? McCain put himself in this mess and he has no clue how to get himself out. We have seen this type behavior out of our current president for five years. I don’t think we need to see it for another four.
Every time i listening to Mccain speeches, I found it sooo boring,like singing lalaluby in order to sleep. How can be a President like him? no charisma, not handsome and old potato, he is like a Beast.Well, I’m too rude,but those are disqualified President nominee.Not like Obama,He is black,tall and handsome,intelligent,smart,humorful,friendly,proffesional Orator,likecable,romantic,sweet,thoughful,lovebable and more.I need one day to write and to describe him.
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There is ample blame to spread around both parties, both houses and both the Clinton and Bush administrations about the path that led to the current crisis. Ironically the House Republicans are close to right: the bailout should not let those who bet on the bubble off the financial hook. All serious parties saw this one coming – and those who want to profit in the run up side of a bubble need to anti up when it bursts. At least McCain called on the Fed to do what it must to insure a strong dollar (quoting Forbes yesterday). This mess took a while to make – and anyone blaming it entirely on one party is a partisan and probably just hoping the blame will all go to the other guy/party. Being divisive is not really helpful at this moment. Nor is letting those who wanted to ride the bubble up to fortune off the hook after it bursts a good idea. We can take over the bank and not let the shareholders write off their losses.
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THE BUSH BAILOUT MEETING WAS TO BE BIPARTISAN. THROUGH GRAMM PAULSON REQUESTED McCAIN’S PRESENCE. BUT THANKS TO PELOSI, REID AND PAULSON LIKE SNAKES GAVE OBAMA A COPY OF THE REPULICAN TERMS AND HAD OBAMA PRESIDE OVER THE MEETING. OBAMA MADE A COMPLETE ASS OUT OF HIMSELF AND SHOWED HE COULD NOT LEAD. AFTER THIS IT TURNED OUT TO BE A SHOUTING MATCH. McCAIN NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO SAY ANYTHING AND TRIED TO CALM EVERYONE DOWN. THIS WHOLE CHARADE BACK FIRED ON PELOSI, REID AND PAULSON AND OBAMA CAME OUT LOOKING LIKE A FOOL.
THE DEMOCRATES WANT REBULICAN SUPORT SO THAT IF ANYTHING BACKFIRES THEY CAN BLAME THE REPUBLICANS.
AMERICANS IN CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA NEED TO VOTE OUT PELOSI AND REID AND GET AMERICA BACK ON A STRAIGHT ROAD. FOOD FOR THOUGHT: IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO OUR PRESIDENT AND VP AT THE SAME TIME PELOSI WILL BECOME PRESIDENT.
A DEMOCRATE VOTING FOR MccAIN / PALIN 2008!!!
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after listening to the debate last night i lost all respect for mcain that i might of had…. He is a fool and anyone who votes for him is the same… the american people have already made an 8yr mistake with bush..Lets not make it another 4yrs..we need a leader who knows what its like to come from nothing.. not some egotistic war hungry bush clone that come from a line of golden spoon fed babies… mcain doesnt know what its like to be middle class or poor so how can he help us????
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You are a Complete fool.
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well the Great One lacks experience and is one of the most liberal guys around. You might get your dreamy guy for president, but you might have to sleep on the ground, cause with all the taxes you will pay you might not be able to afford a bed.
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the bailout scheme is to help out all the buddies up there in the government, who robbed the system blind, and want to bail out those buddies so they all dont lose money. It is not about the American people its about their own behinds and their own money.
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