Postpone the debate? Dumb. – RECONSIDERED

Many on the right of the blogosphere seem impressed with Sen. McCain for him suspending his campaign, pulling ads and trying to postpone this Friday’s debate on Foreign policy.

McCain is making a lot of missteps, lately – keeping Palin from the press is one of them; yes, they treat her savagely and like a pack of jackals, but that’s not going to change if the team wins, so just throw her out there and let her sink or swim.

I think this “campaign suspension” is another mistake. Even though it might be a “noble” move, it’s also the wrong one, strategically and intuitively. For one thing – on a very basic level – and it goes right to what I said last week about Pelosi and Reid trying to run away from DC when the going got tough – when a serious crisis comes along, you still show up! The public needs to feel confident that leadership can handle what is thrown their way and keep going. The Democrats wanting to adjourn last week did not instill that feeling, and McCain – for all that he is attempting to look serious and presidential, here (and may well believe he’s doing the right thing) is instead – just like Pelosi/Reid re-inforcing fears instead of confidence. It’s a bad move, a stupid move. What did he think Obama was going to do, solemnly bow his head and say, “yes, let me follow your lead…”

And for heaven’s sake, you don’t cancel on Letterman, who has already gone from loving you (when you hated Bush) to hating you (because you’re actually trying to beat Obama). You just don’t do that. You want to be taken seriously – you go do Letterman, in the face of this crisis – because people want to hear what you think.

I know there is a time for face-time and a time for serious work – when the Tsunami hit in 2004, President Bush avoided the lip-biting time at the microphone to get our Navy out there and to co-ordinate relief with the Aussies, and he got no props for it – but still, McCain should not have canceled Letterman. Letterman is going to savage him for it. Stupid move. He should have at least gone on Letterman to explain why he thought it wise to postpone the debate.

So, I think it’s dumb – a serious misstep.

My prediction: I think this may be the day we look back on as the day McCain lost the election…but I’ve always said I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, and others don’t see this as a bad move at all. Ace says it’s a sensible move with no political upside to it. That I can agree with. Good or bad move on McCain’s part, the press will do all they can to hurt him with it, so no – no political upside. Get ready to render unto Obama.

McCain is about to learn that almost no one in Washington actually values his efforts toward bi-partisanship and coalition-building, that most of them have only payed lip-service to the notion, and that Congress’ sincerity about “putting politics aside in order to work together” is as big and fat an illusion as the press’ former love for him. McCain has a lot of noble illusions. They’re all being burst. Nobility is not really what Washington is about, anymore.

UPDATE: Reconsidering, as you can see here and here. Also, this played a big part in my thinking that McCain might be right, after all.

Patterico is thinking what I’m thinking.

Bookie says she is impressed with McCain’s move.

Ann Althouse seems mostly positive about it

James Taranto, writing in the Wall Street Journal, says McCain is shrewdly keeping the Dems from using him for cover on the bailout. Might be. Hadn’t considered that.

Harry Reid is telling McCain to stay away. Doublesdown on the political mumbo-jumbo. Reid has no right to say that to McCain, and remember, just yesterday Reid needed McCain on board, but again – McCain asked for it. He didn’t want to be used by Reid…fine…Reid is saying, “I don’t want to be used by you.”

This is too much gameplaying. The only thing good about it is that it’s making me wonder if things are really as serious as they say. If things ARE as serious as they say, and they’re still playing games, then the whole boiling of them should be voted out, finally.

Confederate Yankee says: If Obama wants to go ahead with the debate let Palin substitute for McCain. You know, I had about six emails from people saying this very thing. I actually think that’s a good idea. Why not? If McCain wants to be in DC, working on the economic problem, let his veep nominee debate for him. She’s going to have to step into his shoes if he pops off in office! But as of today, I don’t really see that as being a problem. I think it’s over.

Dan Riehl has two suggestions:

Let the Left laugh, with Obama saying he wants to continue campaigning and debating, I’d do two things were I McCain.

1) Say you can understand Obama’s point of view as he has never been engaged in anything this serious on Capitol Hill, or anywhere else.
2) Volunteer to let his VP nominee sit in for him against Obama on Friday.

Oh, come on now, get serious. If he used the first suggestion the press will just thrust out the upper lip and say McCain is “mean.” If he does the second, Obama will simply say “no thanks” and enjoy his opportunity for a one-on-one with America. Obama doesn’t know, after all, how to actually be a senator. He only knows how to run for office.

This flash poll is not in McCain’s favor. I’m not one for polls…just saying.

President Bush is inviting both candidates to the White House. I think that’s smart. Knock their heads together and say “stop playing games with this!”

Q and O blog says Obama’s response is whiney

Stand in the Trenches says bad idea So does Pursuing Holiness.

Continuing the trend of Christians who think this is a bad idea, Margaret Cabaniss also doesn’t like it

Interesting how many of us “faithful” are so cynical, isn’t it? Hmmmm….something to think about.