McCain Calls For Bipartisan Cooperation On Financial Bailout, But Refuses To Talk With Democrats
McCain Calls For Bipartisan Cooperation On Financial Bailout, But Refuses To Talk With Democrats
On Wednesday afternoon, John McCain claimed to want to put partisanship aside to focus his attention on the financial crisis. “We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved,” he said. Yesterday, McCain’s top aide Mark Salter stressed that McCain was “calling members on both sides.”
But throughout his short involvement in the negotiations over the past few days, McCain has talked almost exclusively with Republicans. The New York Times reports that McCain aides “released a list of people they said Mr. McCain had called from his campaign headquarters on Saturday.” Among them were:
President Bush
Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH)
Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH)
House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO)
The list included “nine House Republicans.” No Democrats were listed.
The only time McCain seemed to interact with Democrats was during the bipartisan meeting at the White House on Thursday. During that meeting, McCain “played a shockingly passive role,” sitting silently for 40 minutes, and refusing to discuss his position on the bailout.
On ABC’s This Week, McCain said he came back to Washington DC to get involved in the bailout negotiations. “I came back because I wasn’t going to phone it in,” he said. And yet, McCain did just that yesterday. He “did not go to Capitol Hill after coming back to Washington.” instead opting to phone it in. Salter explained, “He can effectively do what he needs to do by phone.” McCain did have time, however, to take in dinner at an upscale DC restaurant with Joe Lieberman (I-CT). (HT: TP reader ME)
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The GOP campaign becomes more surreal with each passing day. If not by the hour.
September 28th, 2008 at 1:45 pmHe can get away with this because the MSM is more than willing to “catapult the propaganda”.
He never suspended his campaign, despite headlines all over the nation.
He said that the fundamentals of our economy were strong, even as the extent of the bailout was becoming clear.
He even proclaimed he would do for healthcare what he did for the financial industry.
He gets a “free pass” on everything – complain about him all you want, the real problem is the MSM that enables chronic liars like dur chimpfurher and mclame.
The real problem isn’t the buffoon that stands in front of the cameras and microphones…
September 28th, 2008 at 1:47 pmThat settles it: McCain is not Bi.
September 28th, 2008 at 1:50 pmYou’re forgetting that McSame had dinner with joe Lieberman.
That’s about as close to bipartisanship as McSame is allowed to get these days.
September 28th, 2008 at 1:51 pmThe political prostitute that McCain has become is so abhorrent and disgusting. The word “hate” is anathema to me, but at this point, the word applies to the Republicans in general.
September 28th, 2008 at 1:52 pmHelen Hussein Rainier – in order to be the figurehead of the repug party, you must be a political whore. Just like you have to be involved with DRUGS to be part of a criminal gang of DRUG DEALERS>
Its really that simple.
People need to read history, otherwise, doomed to repeat. What we currently call the REPUBLICAN PARTY was once the WHIG PARTY. They were so corrupt, they no longer stood as a viable “brand.”
They believe the whole point of Government is to loot the treasury and enrich themselves. They believe in BAD government, because they can fool the masses by running against the problems – those that can think see that they created the problems in the first place.
The more some things change, the less they do.
September 28th, 2008 at 1:58 pmDamned fascist neo-con rats are teamed up to take over. We have got to knock them down starting with the idiot. Who knows what trick they’re about pull… You just never know with these fascist freaks!
We have got to unite against them DEMOCRACY WILL MAKE A COMEBACK! no mercy on these freaks I don’t worry that much about McCain. It is the idiot that MUST BE GONE!
September 28th, 2008 at 1:59 pmNO, no phone call for this “IMPORTANT DECISION”
He leaves phone calls for the “REALLY IMPORTANT DECISIONS” You know, the REALLY IMPORTANT DECISIONS” that will follow and haunt him forever like…A VIce Presidential pick.
“John McCain met his new V.P. once and talked to her, only on the phone,”
Phones are remarkable tools nowadays Lindsey. Please tell John that it no longer requires him to only go so far as the string allows.
September 28th, 2008 at 2:01 pm“bipartisan” and NEVER speaking to a DEMOCRAT????
It is so depressing that McCain-Palin even shows a “blip” on the voter scale let alone the disgusting thought that American voters have the race “close” . . . I could accept “American Idol” has entrainment, but McCain-Palin ARE “Sanjay” and that pair will lead the greatest nation on earth . . frightening . . .
September 28th, 2008 at 2:01 pmThat Wednesday morning, John McCain met with Lady Lynn de Rothschild, a Clinton backer who recently came out in support of him.
Wait until Letterman finds out! Oh, the beauty of it all…
September 28th, 2008 at 2:02 pmI’m sure McCain called Lieberman sometime this week. I’m sure he counts that as his “bipartisanship” for the month.
September 28th, 2008 at 2:03 pmthese criminals get away with all this rhetoric spewing from their dirty mouths because the MSM is part of the zionist propaganda machine.
September 28th, 2008 at 2:03 pmCome on yous guys, he’s a Maverick. To prove it, watch him be one of the few who votes against the “bi”partisan legislation that will be presented to Congress.
PS: Zooey@3, you never fail to crack me up.
September 28th, 2008 at 2:04 pmAt least Bush had the decency to call Obama to attend the WH meeting. McCain couldn’t even look Obama in the eye during the meeting and ignored his questions.
McCain is in no way presidential. He thinks his worthless pet peeve for earmark spending should put him in the WH. What a doddering fool.
September 28th, 2008 at 2:08 pmI wonder if my Congressman was one of the nine McCain called. Rep. Mike Conaway is a certified public accountant, so he could provide financial insight.
The problem is he’s been silent, other than some platitudes, generalities and a “coveted prayer request.” He may need to keep quiet to maintain his oath of public trust as an accountant.
Does it concern anyone else a CPA Congressman asked for prayers for wisdom? It seemed a bit like the engine crew of the Titanic coming on deck and asking for prayers.
September 28th, 2008 at 2:10 pmLike it or not, the current crisis puts Obama’s call for a tax cut on the emergency-room gurney, with an IV in it’s arm.
McCain will no-doubt try to capitalize in the next debate, so Obama should do a walk-back, to a more prudent position of wait and see, but with the stated goal of imposing a more equitable tax structure, once the crisis is past.
It does give his call for a redeployment of troops a shot in the arm, though, as a way of putting us back on the road to fiscal recovery.
September 28th, 2008 at 2:16 pmMcIIIrd’s definition of bipartisan = Himself and one other partisan.
September 28th, 2008 at 2:19 pmI am more convinced than ever of what Senator Kerry said of McCain during the Dems convention :
September 28th, 2008 at 2:24 pm” McCain needs to dedate McCain”.
McStain and the Keating 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxBCAaulG-k
September 28th, 2008 at 2:31 pmJust another tangled web spun by Rumpelstiltscain.
September 28th, 2008 at 2:35 pm@ 12 bs
Say, that’s a great moniker! “…the zionist propaganda machine?” Please, go take your medications before you return to post a stupid and unwarranted claim like that again.
September 28th, 2008 at 2:37 pmHas he resumed his campaign yet, or has he given up entirely?
September 28th, 2008 at 2:43 pmMcCain/Palin or Unstable/Unable is shaping up to be the greatest political flame-out in history.
September 28th, 2008 at 2:53 pmgot some real
mole trolls here
today, don’t we?
*
September 28th, 2008 at 2:54 pmMcCain:
The public must now literally infer the exact opposite what is coming out of John McCain’s mouth.
Truth:
It is unbelievable.
September 28th, 2008 at 2:56 pmYo!~ Adrian – Intrade ~ Obama 58.3 McIIIrd 40.5
September 28th, 2008 at 2:58 pmTruth, he’s phoning it in, cause no one wants his unitelligible gibberish input anyhoo.
September 28th, 2008 at 2:58 pmChoosing Sarah Palin as McCain’s running mate alone is enough to tell us what kind of judgement the Mavwerick possesses.
September 28th, 2008 at 3:01 pmIf McCain indeed put his country first as he claims,he would not have chosen someone who is not qualified for the job of V.Presint, if not for the president’s job at a later date.
That alone indicates that he surrendered his thoughts to an ill advice given to him by his handlers and strategists of his campaign,in search of a win.
There are lists of thousands of qualified Republicans and Democrats that McCain could have picked up a VP nominee from, who are more qualified than Sarah Palin.
Instead, the Maverick did what he thought will give him a win in this race in November.
But despite his claims of ‘Country First’,it is clear now that it’s ‘Me First’.
Will Sarah deliver?!!…
The coming days will tell us .
Before McCain injected politics into the situation last week, congress seemed close to agreeing to and passing a plan.
Now the house Republicans have come up with their own plan. One that involves the government, not buying the questionable assets, but only insuring them. Wall St. companies would have to pay the premiums for this insurance. How would they get the money to pay for the premiums since they are so cash strapped now? Of course, they would have to get additional tax breaks to help pay for the premiums.
Now I am not an economist, but I like to eat fish. Something smells fishy here.
If the government does not buy out the bad debts assets but merely insures them, then the Wall St. companies still own the bad debts. Now we have been told that these assets are not worthless, and that eventually they could be bundled together, some of the bad ones with the good ones, and sold to help recoup some of the money that was spent on them. If enough time goes by, we may even realize a profit.
If the government owned the assets, then when they are sold, the taxpayers might eventually reap the benefits of their increased value.
If the Wall St. companies own the assets, and they are insured, then they reap the profits of the best of these assets, while cashing in the insurance on the bad ones. They can’t lose. The only loser is the one insuring the bad debts, which is the American taxpayer that the house Republicans so much want to protect. The Wall St. companies make huge profits again, and they get new tax breaks.
Am I wrong, or do you smell the fish too?
September 28th, 2008 at 3:02 pmSpeaking of lying liars:
McCain Retracts Palin’s Agreements With Obama On Pakistan
Appearing today on ABC’s This Week, John McCain was forced to disavow Sarah Palin’s agreement yesterday with Barack Obama about attacking al-Qaeda within the Pakistani border. McCain criticized the press for picking up on Palin’s conversation with a voter on the street in Philadelphia: “Sticking a microphone while conversations are being held, and then all of a sudden that’s — that’s a person’s position.”
From tpm
September 28th, 2008 at 3:09 pmAfter the debate Friday, my wife who had no opinion on McCain now calls him, condescending, smarmy, and just plain creepy.
I would have to agree.
September 28th, 2008 at 3:20 pmSo he called those guy, but to call is not the same as to talk with – who called him?
September 28th, 2008 at 3:22 pmArtZ,
Something smells fishy to me also.
A big part of the current problem are the “Credit Default Swaps” which were supposed to be a kind of INsurance in case of Mortgage Defaults.
They were, thanks to Phil Gramm, Unregulated and thanks to the “Smartest people in the room” Highly Leveraged.
As I understand it, Highly Leveraged means very little cash covering very Much Risk. As soon as House prices started to fall, the House of Cards began to collapse.
Now, as you say, the house republicans and Wall st. want to replace these worthless swaps with Government Guarantees.
What kind of Insurance doesn’t have enough assets to cover potential losses?? Deregulated ones!
In any case, I don’t think anyone is buying the house Republicans Insurance scheme.
September 28th, 2008 at 3:25 pmBuckie Boy, be sure she sees this too:
John Mccain Offers His Wife for Sleazy Biker Bikini Contest
Of course, he has also said she is the C-word too.
September 28th, 2008 at 3:25 pmJohn McSame’s bipartisanship is “as seen on teevee” only.
September 28th, 2008 at 3:36 pmBipartisan John who can’t even look at his colleague from the across the aisle in front of America.
September 28th, 2008 at 3:56 pmJohn McCain is proving himself to be a very small person, and he is getting smaller and meaner every day. What an ugly creature he has become.
September 28th, 2008 at 4:08 pmWho called in to postpone the Reaper’s getting his due on Wall Street? If not McCain, who?
September 28th, 2008 at 4:09 pmObama McCain MoE +/- RV/LV
Today
Research 2000: 50 (49) 43 (43) 3 LV
Rasmussen: 50 (50) 44 (44) 2 LV
Diageo/Hotline: 47 (48) 42 (43) 3.2 RV
Gallup: 50 (49) 42 (44) 2 RV
By Tuesday, I suspect the pundits will be reworking the “Why McCain Won The
September 28th, 2008 at 4:24 pmDebate” stories to “Why McCain Lost”.
I suspect that — even if McNumbNuts tried to “phone it in” to any Democrats — he ended up leaving messages that will never be returned.
Gotta give the old fart one thing, though. He has become the role model for transparency in government . . . as a matter of fact, I think most Americans were able to see clear through him this week.
September 28th, 2008 at 4:27 pmIt is clear from the latest poll numbers (Gallup now has Obama up by 8) that Senator Obama was the clear winner of the debate Friday night. And the loser, in every respect, John McCain. Poor John, he can’t even get Sarah to bail him out, since she has lost every shred of credibility.
Frank Rich totally dressed down John McCain and his whole failed charade from the past week. It is brilliant.
I have the story and link (plus my favorite McCain pic) at:
http://scootmandubious.blogspot.com/2008/09/frank-rich-exposes-john-mccain.html
There is also a funny new video out that juxtaposes Sarah Palin’s comments to Katie Couric with Miss South Carolina’s inane responses at last year’s Miss Teen USA pageant. Close your eyes and you won’t be able to tell them apart. It is a video to be shared, and it is at:
September 28th, 2008 at 4:50 pmhttp://scootmandubious.blogspot.com/2008/09/separated-at-birth-sarah-palin-miss.html
Fear and loathing in DC. Watch JM vote against the bill.
September 28th, 2008 at 4:52 pmThursday’s show meeting was convened by Bush and McCain in order for John McCain to “save the economy.” It turns out that Obama spoke for the Democrats in the room officially, and confronted John McCain in front of everyone present, repeatedly asking McCain what he thought of the plan so far. McCain had not even read the plan, and was unable to give any answers, becoming more and more embarrassed and angry at the way this was turning out. He had planned to put Obama on the spot, and the tables were turned on him. Congressional aides from both parties were standing in the lobby of the West Wing when McCain emerged alone, shook the hands of the Marines at the door and left. This is why McCain has been unable to look Obama in the eye ever since, which was evident at the debate.
September 28th, 2008 at 5:11 pmNow the house Republicans have come up with their own plan. One that involves the government, not buying the questionable assets, but only insuring them. Wall St. companies would have to pay the premiums for this insurance. How would they get the money to pay for the premiums since they are so cash strapped now? Of course, they would have to get additional tax breaks to help pay for the premiums.
Several things about this. Premiums, alone, would never cover claims, so the insurance would still need to be underwritten. Guess by who? Add to that their brilliant plan to reduce or eliminate capital gains for their firms (at least temporarily…sure) plus eliminate additional regulations, which would basically allow these corporations to continue to operate without sufficient capitalization. In other words, continue practices which have resulted in this mess.
September 28th, 2008 at 5:32 pmThe issues and the circumstances are very different but McCain’s attitude reminded me of this, from 2004:
September 28th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Hello!! I don’t normally like this guy, but listen carefully to what he says:
http://www.dailynewscaster.com/2008/09/28/rep-michael-burgess-we-are-under-martial-law/
September 28th, 2008 at 6:07 pmEver wonder how we got into this mess?
How Democrat Thieves Looted Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac…
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_091808/content/01125107.guest.html
September 28th, 2008 at 8:24 pmI thought initially that McCain’s ignoring of Barack Obama during Friday’s debate was a racist stunt, where the “white guy” refuses to even acknowledge the existence of the “black guy,” but I now realize that McCain’s attitude really reflected an utter disdain for all Democrats, including Barack Obama.
This Republican hatred of all Democrats and all things democratic is exactly what Bush and Cheney brought into the White House almost eight years ago.
John McCain, and no doubt Sarah Palin, have the same attitude…a hatred of all Democrats and all things democratic…to the point that they literally hate over half the citizens of America…to the point that they don’t want to address the concerns of over half the citizens of America.
McCain and Palin WOULD be four more years of Bush and Cheney, and the culture of corruption Republicans…the Republicans who only represent a relatively small slice of the American population: their wealthy fat-cat friends with multiple homes and cars, and those religiously fanatical enough to be on anti-psychotic drugs (for the safety and good of everyone around them, including their own children).
Four more years of McCain and Palin would be four more years of this Republican insanity that already has done so much harm to our nation.
September 28th, 2008 at 8:28 pmTim43 Says:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I know how we got into this mess you lying ignorant hivemind moron. Through the Republican mania for deregulation you lying ice dancing poodle fluffer. No one in their right mind is going to a stupid screechmonkey like Limbaugh for an explanation. Only brainwashed idiots like YOU go to the Limborg to find out what you think. He does YOUR thinking for YOU but he has nothing to say that interests me. He is a liar and a propagandistic boob. A lot like you but not quite so stupid. Take your Limborg site, fold it till its all corners and deposit it where the sun never shines you worthless, ignorant piece of garbage
September 28th, 2008 at 8:30 pmPoor Timmeh, once again showing the herd mentality that is the hallmark of the failed Repugnicant brand…
September 28th, 2008 at 9:10 pmThe only time McCain seemed to interact with Democrats was during the bipartisan meeting at the White House on Thursday. During that meeting, McCain “played a shockingly passive role,”
Churlish behaviour ….check
September 28th, 2008 at 9:28 pmApparent Passive-Agressive tendencies….check
Calling it bipartisan while refusing to even communicate….check
Repub admirers note that he was the ringleader of the troublemakers at college(frat style)…..check
Graduated at almost the bottom of his class (kind of check, its too late for McSame to go back and make sure to take the lowest grade).
How many times does this man prevaricate in a day? Can he himself even distinguish anymore when he’s telling the truth, from when he’s fibbing to cover up yesterday’s lie?
September 28th, 2008 at 9:31 pmhave you seen it? the latest fright-wing email confusion:
Not long ago I read a joke … It said all the politicians running for president are promising change to the American people. We send them billions and billions of tax dollars and they send us the change.
Funny?
Not really; there is too much truth in it to be funny.
That got me to thinking … They all promise change. How about if they run on a promise of restoration rather than change. Now there’s a thought!
A restoration that would take us back in time to a place where things ran better, smoother and life was more enjoyable.
Change?
That, in truth, is what they have been giving us all along.
We used to have a strong dollar … Politicians changed that.
Life used to be sacred … Politicians changed that.
Marriage used to be sacred … Politicians are changing that.
We used to be respected around the world … Politicians changed that.
We used to have a strong manufacturing economy … Politicians changed that.
We used to have lower tax structures … Politicians changed that.
We used to enjoy more freedoms … Politicians changed that.
We used to be a large exporter of American made goods…… Politicians changed that.
We used to be an openly Christian nation … Politicians changed that.
We used to teach patriotism in schools … Politicians changed that.
We used to educate children in schools … Politicians changed that.
We used to enjoy freedom of speech … Politicians changed that.
We used to enforce LEGAL citizenship … Politicians changed that.
We used to have affordable food & gas prices … Politicians changed that, too.
… and one could go on and on with this list.
What hasn’t been changed, politicians are promising to change that as well if you will elect them.
When, oh when, is America going to sit back with open eyes and look at what we once were and where we have come and say, enough is enough?
The trouble is, America’s youthful voters today don’t know of the great America that existed forty and fifty years ago. They see the world as if it has always existed, as it is now.
When will we wake up? Tomorrow may be too late. When will America realize … Politicians are what is wrong with America?
We need restoration not change !!!!!!!
_____
they just aren’t listening, to the truth…
September 28th, 2008 at 11:38 pmand just keep living in the past…
getplaning Says:
Thursday’s show meeting was convened by Bush and McCain in order for John McCain to “save the economy.” [...] He had planned to put Obama on the spot, and the tables were turned on him. [...]
This is why McCain has been unable to look Obama in the eye ever since, which was evident at the debate.
i’ve got to agree… this is the most obvious…
September 28th, 2008 at 11:49 pmbut there are many other mentioned excuses…
the man has some serious issues.
he bill is available
http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/28/news/pdf/index2.htm
and Boner is instructing the House GOP to back it.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/28/news/economy/Sunday_talks_bailout/index.htm?cnn=yes
Thi bill is nothing more that us going into more debt for nothing. I am calling for the repeal of the Federal Reserve Act. The creation of this fictious entity (Federal Reserve) is the reason we are here today.
Call you Congress Critters and tell them to
REPEAL THE FED!
September 28th, 2008 at 11:53 pmSuch a Maverick, isn’t he?
He is neo republican partisan when displaying his bi- partisanship.
September 29th, 2008 at 12:12 amHis has boxed himself in with so many juvenile
September 29th, 2008 at 12:28 pmstunts. The only way out is straight down. This
will be the worse lesson of his life and no one
to blame but himself.
McCain’s has claimed he is the Foreign Policy Expert,
September 29th, 2008 at 12:35 pmI researched Wikipedia and could not find support to
that claim. Can anyone enlighten me?