Experts Expound

“Citing the economy, John McCain has suspended his political campaign and announced he won’t participate in Friday’s presidential debate. What’s going on here–statesmanship or desperation?”

A little of both. What this triggers next is a debate over the term “suspend.” Does that mean vice-presidential candidates and surrogates are on the sidelines, too, or only the headliners?

Both – with just a touch of genius sprinkled in.

Seems like a stunt to establish credibility on economic issues after his perceived out-of-touch statement that the economy is fundamentally sound.

Smart, smart, smart. McCain has put Obama in a lose-lose position. If Obama goes along with McCain’s suggestion for suspension and a joint statement of principles, he cedes “leadership” on a critical issue — the economy — to his GOP opponent. If he snubs McCain, Obama appears to place partisan politics and political campaigning above “the good of the country.” Devilish.

Smart campaign move – seize the moment and take charge of the issue.

McCain needed a game-changer, not a game-canceller. It’s desperation dressed up in statesmanship’s clothing designed to stop McCain’s slide in the polls.

He’s stuck in the tiger cage of his party’s insane economic policy. That’s perfect. When the going gets tough, the party responsible goes into hiding. Or does it have something to do with the fact his campaign manager was on the payroll of the very bankers who caused the meltdown?

I’ll give him ‘guts.’ There is no doubt that this will be a textbook lesson.

I thought Steve Schmidt was supposed to be political strategist extraordinaire? This whole thing is very confusing. The goal was obviously to be seen as a statesman, but if everyone is asking this question (and they are), then they’ve missed the mark big time. Very confusing.

He’s listened to Hillary: No Debate, No How, No Way…….McWimp.

Typical McCain – erratic.

If we can’t debate the economy in a presidential election, what can we debate? As I recall, when the tide is running against you, it’s always good to call a timeout. He must think he’ll get creamed in a debate right now.

I don’t think he wants to be on national television having to defend the last 8 years of Bush inactivity in regulating the center of the financial universe!

Reducing transparency and limiting media scrutiny will, no doubt, go a long way to help our country’s desperate fiscal situation. Thanks, Maverick!

It’s like the Adam Ant song, “Desperate, but not Serious.” What a joke.

Apparently this guy’s a Right Stuff pilot-cowboy who likes to shoot from the hip. God help us if we get a gambler as a president when what we really need is a thoughtful, reflective statesman.
We might look back and say this is the beginning of the end for McCain. Maybe he’s serious, but he looks like he’s ducking having to debate the economy with Obama. And “suspend” was the wrong word to use about his campaign. Hillary Clinton and Mitt Romney “suspended” their campaigns when they were really just dropping out.

The people from whom we sought opinions: Andrew Acosta, A.G. Block, Elizabeth Ashford, Mark Bogetich, Barry Brokaw, Morgan Crinklaw, J. Dale Debber, Peter DeMarco, Jim Evans, Kathy Fairbanks, Jeff Fuller, Rex Frazier, Ken Gibson, Evan Goldberg, Deborah Gonzalez, Sandy Harrison, Bob Hertzberg, Jason Kinney, Mike Madrid, Nicole Mahrt, Steve Maviglio, Adam Mendelsohn, Barbara O’Connor, Bill Packer, Kassy Perry, Jack Pitney, Adam Probolsky, Tony Quinn, Matt Rexroad, Matt Ross, Roger Salazar, Gabriel Sanchez, Dan Schnur, Will Shuck, Ralph Simoni, Sam Sorich, Ray Sotero, Gary South, Kevin Spillane, Rich Zeiger