Political Discussions

Was McCain behind the Breakdown in Bailout Negotiations?

Posted by opinionstreams • 9/26/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: bailout negotiations, campaign 2008, john mccain

I discuss this in my latest post. He at least had foreknowledge of this sudden new Republican "caucus" proposal and chose to sit on that knowledge, even though removing the "element of surprise" could have helped keep negotiations on course. He subsequently sat on his hands at the meeting when his own Party broke down into shouting factions with Bush and Paulson on one side and Boehner on the other. At such a critical moment, McCain declined to take a stand. As Marc Ambinder wondered, “if not to get these recalcitrant Republicans on board, why did McCain go to Washington in the first place?”

I analyze the timeline and answer Ambinder's question in my post: opinionstreams.com/blog/?p=56. Please read.

What do you think?

User Comments

9/26/08

monkeysuit

I don't think he wants the rebublicans on board. Maybe he went so they wouldn't be onboard.

[reply]
9/26/08

MidwestMom

Opinionstreams,

Have a look at this timeline from NPR: "Charting McCain's Suspended Campaign"
www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95054406

Only arriving in Washington at noon yesterday, it would seem that Sen. McCain has played virtually no role in bringing about resolution on this issue.

Perhaps Boehner is making a power play of his own and providing House Republicans with a way to distance themselves from President Bush in the process.

From what I see, John McCain's 'leadership' (or even involvement, at this point) is fictitious.

[reply]
1. 9/26/08
  
  opinionstreams
  
  Thanks for that link MM. I was trying to find time to read something similar on HuffPo. I knew his "leadership" was fictitious when, after he cancelled the Letterman appearance "for the good of the nation", he headed to CBS News and sat in the makeup chair for an hour and did a Katie Couric interview. Then he stayed in NY overnight and went to Bill Clinton's event the next day. He obviously didn't think the economy was that big a deal.
2. 9/26/08
  
  Wisco
  
  That was my take. I guess House GOP is getting swamped with calls and letters against the bailout. They're looking to save their own skins, not McCain's.
9/26/08

cooper

The scene at the Whitehouse was bogus, he brought his campaign staff not his Senate aids. Most of what he said made not a whole lot of sense. I don't know one way or another if he messed it up or if the Republicans wanted to hold out for that capital gains tax decrease anyway. It's obvious he was taking the opportunity to be a hero if he could,( it could have worked you can't blame a guy for trying except he so often gets in the way of real work), he is nothing if not opportunistic in regard to politics, it just seems his efforts are transparent even to Republicans, or at least to those on The Hill.

[reply]
9/26/08

csiunatc

OF course he was, i also heard that he was the driving force behind the Spanish Inquisition, Caused the Hindenburg Disaster and lets not forget that he most likely was the one that designed the Apollo 13 oxygen stirring mechanism..

sigh....

[reply]
1. 9/27/08
  
  poisonapplesauce