England for Obama

Here’s what Obama said yesterday.

John McCain last night:

“Senator Obama and his allies in Congress infused unnecessary partisanship into the process. Now is not the time to affix the blame. It’s time to fix the problem.”

Love it.

According to Today on Radio 4, the discussions in Washington about the economic bailout turned into “a shouting match” yesterday. And according to HuffPo, John McCain “sat quiet through most of the meeting, [and] never offered specifics”. Probably because he doesn’t know much about the economy, eh? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I don’t know much about the economy, either. But then, I didn’t just fly to Washington saying that I was going to help. Although I’m perfectly happy to make tea for everyone if they need me.

Meanwhile, back in Oxford, Mississippi, preparations are taking place for tonight’s televised debate. Or rather: would-be televised debate, as according to news sources, it is still ‘in limbo’*.  John McCain has said all along that he won’t take part until and unless a deal has been reached in Washington - and, well, it doesn’t look like that’s gonna happen today, Johnny boy.

So will he really balk? Will Barack Obama be standing there tonight opposite an empty lectern? I somehow doubt it. If McCain doesn’t show up tonight, he will have thrown away the election. Instantly. Of course, if he still turns up before any deal has been agreed, he will look like he’s going back on his word - but in the big scheme of things, that would be far less damaging and I’m sure the GOP could spin it, as they spin everything else.

More on the goings-on in Washington yesterday here and here - and here’s our man Obama giving his sensible take on the whole affair:

I have to say, I find it both remarkable and quite, quite hand-rubbingly brilliant that it’s the right wing of the Republican party that’s scuppering Bush’s bailout plan - because, to their minds, this is “socialism” and the free market should be left to, well, run free (oh, and by the way: John McCain is in their ranks). The Republicans didn’t squirm when Hurricane Katrina happened and millions of people needed aid. They don’t squirm when they need health care, because they can afford it. But they’re squirming now.

I keep thinking of a great quote I heard from a commentator the other day: “Profits are privatised, but debt is socialised”.

And so it seems. In the Republicans’ America, at least.
*I love that headline: Debate Remains In Limbo. Is that ‘Limbo, Ohio’? I wouldn’t put it past my American friends and their crazy place names…

What’s the word I’m looking for…?

Ah, that’s it: ‘Presidential’.

So, in fact, there’s nothing major to report this morning following yesterday’s bombshell from John McCain. Except that - as I wrote in my comment to P Grecco last night - it’s come out that the Republican camp want to push the presidential debate back to October 2, which is, surprise surprise!, the date that the vice presidential debate is due to take place. ie. they want to push that back too, to an unspecified date. Ideally, presumably, ‘never’.

Could this possibly be because they fear that Sarah Palin is at best unprepared for, or at worst unable to cope with, her debate with Joe Biden? Could this entire ‘rushing to Washington’ thing have been purposely constructed in order to push back - or even eliminate - as many debates as possible? I wouldn’t put it past the GOP.

For what it’s worth - and it actually is worth quite a lot - polls of American people on various news sites seem to show that the overwhelming majority think the debate this Friday should still go on (looks like McCain got the public opinion wrong on this one - oops); and the debate commission is also insisting, along with Obama, that it goes ahead.

In the meantime, both Barack Obama and John McCain are going to be in Washington today, at the invitation of George Bush - although apparently this invite was extended months ago - and there were some big TV moments yesterday.

Firstly, George Bush addressed the nation about the economic crisis and the proposed bailout plan. Here’s the MSNBC Nightly News team analysing what was, essentially, a sales pitch:

Secondly, The Late Show With David Letterman saw its host rip into John McCain, who was supposed to be appearing on it but pulled out at the last minute due to his rush to Washington (only it turns out he was in the studio next door):

And thirdly, video of Katie Couric’s Monday night interview with Sarah Palin appeared on YouTube (my jaw, which had been slowly moving towards the floor, actually hit it on Palin’s last line):

Wow.

John McCain has just announced that he’s taking time out out from campaigning and heading to Washington to help deal with the economic crisis (apparently they can’t do it without him). He wants to postpone the televised debate on Friday - and he wants Obama to join him in DC.

Blimey.

Here are the first reports on HuffPo and CNN. And here’s the video of McCain making his statement (sorry, can’t work out how to embed ABC video).

This is either a disastrous move, or a brilliant one. Does it make it seem like McCain can’t cope? That he’s running away from a fight? Or does it make him seem like a sacrificing man-of-the-people, putting his country first and saving the day by going to Washington (asking Obama to join you was a nice touch by the way, Johnny)?

Personally, I’m going for the HuffPo commenter who just wrote: “Obama should not agree to cancel the debate. McCain is scared and Obama should pounce on him like a hungry Lion! If the situation was reversed and it was Obama who was asking to delay the debate, McCain would be crying foul and the press would be all over Obama.”

Or indeed, the one who writes: “What next, will he want to postpone the election?”

What will happen? Watch this space. I’ll update in British waking time :-).

*Update* The Obama camp say “the debate is on”.

*Update 2* Here’s Obama’s response to McCain’s decision/request:

*Update 3* Re. my musing above as to how McCain’s move will be perceived: the general consensus in the US right now (ie. from news blogs and comments left on news blogs) would appear to be falling on the side of “disastrous”. More updates in the morning, folks.