MCCAIN'S DEBATE DEBACLE: break his word, and look like a fool, or keep (it), and look like a coward

[ProSense]

MCCAIN'S DEBATE DEBACLE.... For reasons that defy logic, John McCain had put himself in quite a box. He "suspended" (but not really) his presidential campaign, and vowed to skip the first presidential debate unless Congress and the Bush administration reached a deal on a Wall Street bailout. Indeed, McCain gave his word -- no deal, no debate.

By late yesterday, that put McCain in a very awkward position. Obama said he was headed to Mississippi, whether McCain was prepared to show up or not. The likelihood of a deal all but vanished, because McCain had torpedoed negotiations. McCain could break his word, and look like a fool, or keep his word, and look like a coward.

<...>

In other words, the campaign "suspension" -- which had never actually started -- has now ended, and the debate is on. In perhaps the single most unintentionally hilarious line of the entire campaign, McCain's statement added, "The difference between Barack Obama and John McCain was apparent during the White House meeting yesterday where Barack Obama's priority was political posturing." Seriously. The campaign actually said that.

But more importantly, this entire scheme has turned into quite a debacle. McCain's statement justifies his decision to break his word by insisting that there's been "significant progress." In our reality, there was "significant progress" on Wednesday and Thursday morning -- progress that vanished after McCain started screwing things up.

McCain needed a principled reason to go back on his promise, but he apparently couldn't come up with one. Things got tough, McCain panicked (again), and when push came to shove, he blinked.

It'd be amusing if it weren't so absurd.

[ProSense]

1. McCain Blinks

AmericaBlog

[ProSense]

2. Ex-Adviser: McCain "Blinked," Campaign "Governed By Tactics, Not Ideology"

Ex-Adviser: McCain "Blinked," Campaign "Governed By Tactics, Not Ideology":

On Friday, it announced that the Senator would head down to Mississippi even though, as they readily admit, much work remained needed on the bailout agreement.

The whole episode left even conservatives admitting that the McCain campaign looked erratic and a bit foolish with no apparent direction or guiding principle.

"It just proves his campaign is governed by tactics and not ideology," said Republican consultant Craig Shirley, who advised McCain earlier in this cycle. "In the end, he blinked and Obama did not. The 'steady hand in a storm' argument looks now to more favor Obama, not McCain."

Shirley added, "My guess is that plasma units are rushing to the McCain campaign as we speak to replace the blood flowing there from the fights among the staff."

Tracking polls are inherently volatile. But the initial results suggest that McCain's suspension/debate cancellation stunt has been a big bust.

link

McFool screwed up.

[ProSense]

3. No comment?

Fool, coward or both?

[RichGirl]

4. What if....

As a true Maverick, in the spirit of Putting America First...McCain announces tonight....drum roll...He is endorseing Barack Obama to be President of the United States....roaring applause, standing ovation!!!
In true unity, like Hillary releasing her delegates, John McCain releases his voters.
John McCain has put the "United" back into the United States.

[ProSense]

5. In this scenario

are there men in white coats standing behind McCain?

[ProSense]

6. A Hostile Audience

National Review blog:

One side effect of McCain's debate gambit is, I'm told, that everyone at Ole Miss now hates him. It will make for a very hostile audience tonight among those students and faculty attending. He might have to apologize for creating the uncertainty or make some explanation up front, which is never ideal.

McMoron deserves it.