McCain has the habit of returning from the dead. Obama has to keep pounding away until election night. We can't be complacent.

...but then, that is nothing new.

After George Will let JSM III have it earlier this week, I could see that ANYTHING can happen this year.

Like Paulson anointing himself as Viceroy.

Sorry you were sick, and happy belated Birthday. I'm not sure I'm as optimistic about people seeing through McCain's latest ploy, if only because the Palin pick went over much better than I would've expected. To me, that also seemed to be a blatantly cynical and calculated move, and yet, it worked for a few days. (I agree with you that in the long term, it'll backfire, particularly if the McCain campaign keeps shielding Palin from the press to the extent that it's doing.)

All I can say is, I hope you're right. Feel better!

Thanks, Faulkner Jr., it might be the fever talking, but I don't think so. We'll see soon enough.

Joan, you could not have said it better. I only hope the Press/Media brings out the truth to the people. Because People are so easily swayed by what they see..they don't like to think beyond it. I see McCain coming out with his chant- Obama put campaign before the country tomorrow. Only the media can write the way you did-and rightfully reveal mccain's strategy as dirty filthy backstabbing politics.

Jeebus! The wheels have fallen off the CrazyTalk Bus. Someone needs to revoke McCain's drivers' license.

The GOP campaign pros (among whom I do not count McSame's staff) are probably only now coming out of aortic fibrillation. What a boneheaded play -- did they really think Obama is so stupid as to fall for this?

Absolutely the correct reaction, Joan. Except you could be a but more disgusted by McSame's blatant selfishness at such a time, as I am.

But feel better, soon. Next few weeks are going to be filled with more days like this. Stay strong.

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McCain can send Sarah Palin to substitute for him.

That would be her job in the future, right?

...the people who already support Obama will see McCain's move as cowardly theatrics; the people who already support McCain will see it as high-minded statesmanship.

The people who have yet to make a decision won't be sure how to see it.

I mean, look at his left eye in that photo, and others from that event.

More like McCain sayin':

"Hold on there! First let me pull my pants back up goddamnit!"

if obama's numbers are so good why would it hurt him to wait a few days for the financial settlement to be concluded?

Does he need a financial crisis to be in play to look good in the debates? Is he really that shallow? He's dodged debates for months when there was really no good reason. McCain wants to make sure that this crisis, some say the greatest crisis since the great depression, is firmly addressed and you suggest that is just a cheap political play?

I guess you must still be sick and a little more light headed than usual.

Obama looks and sounds presidential and McCain does not. Let's hope that press and the public figure it out, too.

I've seen it suggested elsewhere that Obama should counter by offering to change the debate subject to the economy and move the location to DC. I'm sure that they could find a place in the Senate Office Building.

McCain might be dumb enough to moan that he would have no time to prepare, in which case Obama's obvious reply would be to make it a table stakes debate, i.e. no prep - you just bring what you know. As McCain is always touting his experience, he should have nothing to fear ...

You are way off on this one. The election is about leadership, responsibility and de-politicking Washington. Both candidates are US Senators- they have an obligation to the people to fix this...not on Inauguration day, but right now. We are paying them for it...not to run for office or president of the world. It's all well and good to take potshots at McCain from the safe haven of San Francisco, but far too many people are suffering - some irreparably - and don't have time to wait until after the election. All I see these days are the likes of Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi fiddling while the world burns...because it helps their party's election chances.

Whether you like it or not, Joan - this is leadership, not cowardice. Though you'd be hard pressed to find a difference in today's Washington.

Obama's good at campaigning and giving speaches to adoring crowds.

McCain's good at working across the aisle in bi-partisan fashion to solve the nation's problems.

That's another way of looking at it.

Has McCain had a stroke?

I mean, look at his left eye in that photo, and others from that event.

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Are you liberals still trying to say McCain is "too old" to be president? Wow....

If that's the best you can come up with you've already lost.

While I have very little sympathy for John McCain, it seems to me that he is a tired old man who has suddenly realized that he's bitten off more than he can chew. He's been driven by ambition and ego, and now, at 72, he is close to a goal that he might now really want to reach: being President of the most powerful nation on Earth (for now).

Think about it. How many of you who are younger than 72 want to still be working at that age, much less taking on a gargantuan job -- perhaps the most gargantuan job on Earth -- and one that is made even more daunting by the massive failures and disasters heaped upon it by George "Worst President Ever" Bush? This is a job for a younger person. McCain must wake up exhausted every day. He ought to be relaxing with his wealth and riding out his golden years but instead, he's in this madman's frantic and desperate struggle to become President of the United States of America.

Can't you imagine McCain looking at the eager and energetic and ambitious woman he's foolishly chosen as a running mate, almost half his age, and realizing that he's an old man in a young person's game? No wonder he wants to postpone the debate and call together a commission of wise heads to ponder the fate of the nation's finances: he's overwhelmed, and tired.

McCain will be the oldest President ever if elected. That's not good for us, and I think he realizes, not good for him, either.

(That will be 5 cents, please).