Washington File

I never loved McCain. I never trusted him or bought his "straight shooter" persona. Hell, Obama has a few good ideas but even he is simply the lesser of two evils. Of course I'm not a wishy-washy liberal. I am a socialist and proud of it.

My friend in Vancouver tells me the grouchiness up there is due to the new Hockey Night anthem being not so good and you are taking it out on McCain (with Obama being black and all). OK, if it's about hockey I understand

Stick to American comments? Will, this is an American election under discussion or did you think otherwise? And since when did Canadians become so mean spirited? Some of us prefer not to vote for the Chicago "organizer" should we be shot?

Jerry in Seattle.... if you mean that we think McSame is OLDER than dirt, then you're correct. Because he is, as are his ideas. By your postings I can only guess you're hoping for 4 more years, just like the last 8. Enjoy. Everyone who votes for this transparent old snake, deserves what he gets, because he doesn't give a whit about anybody but himself, and neither does Caribou Barbie.

Thank you for making these complicated events and the relavent time lines so clear.

Hey Jerry, you are so wrong it hurts. Stick to american comments, hopefully you know something about them.

Obama "mailed it in" so he could dodge blame if it failed. Which it has. McCain did the thing a leader would do and got his hands dirty trying to get it passed. Funny how when McCain ran against Bush all you liberals loved him (Straight Shooter and all that). Now he is against a liberal's dream candidate and McCain is dirt.

Henry,

McCain saw something different. He saw a chance to make political theatre out of the country's most serious political crisis in 80 years. Instead of simply meeting with the President to be briefed on the details of the proposed package--a reasonable thing for him to have done--he stayed around grandstanding, but at best doing nothing to help the legislation's progress, at worst slowing it down with his grandstanding. Then when he started taking heat (even from Mike Huckabee) for proposing to evade the Friday night debate, he capitulated at the last minute.

Translation: John McCain stands for nothing except John McCain. Elect him at your peril.

JP

As usual, Henry is right on the money.

Great account of the timeline of events which were not reported here in the US. After the debate there is only one question for those undecided voters - who do you want to run the country - a politician or a statesman? Perhaps that question would apply to Canada too.

Mr. Champ, a well written and factual piece, I only wish we could see more of this sort of journalism here in the States. As a Canadian expat I am finding myself frequently turning to the international media (mostly CBC of course!)to get a true accounting of the facts of this election, instead of the sensationalism that passes for journalism here. Senator Obama has the intelligence, judgement and temperament to turn this country away from the ideological fanatisism that has permeated the current administration. Senator McCain does not. I only hope the american voters can make the right choice come November...

Thanks to Henry Champ for telling it as it is.
Hopefully, the American public will see McCain for what he is.

I'm not thrilled with either candiate. But Obama has done nothing as a senator exept run for president. At least McCain has a record of accomplishments.

Great work, Henry.

I enjoy Mr. Champ's observations from the reporting from the domestic reporters. By not appearing on David Letterman's Show on Wednesday and being found in another studio at CBS wasn't not a sharp move by Sen. McCain. Mr Letterman's comment that "something smells" here is right on. At the Whitehouse, McCain reportly didn't say anything or very little compared to Obama who asked many questions. He (McCain) has picked a lightweight; talking point only VP running mate only puts another nail in his quest for president. Next week the VP debate is scheduled and I expect Sen. Biden not even break a sweat in going over the issues with Gov. Palin.

I just hope the agreement reached Saturday evening will be part of the cure for the U.S. economy. The next part has to be getting the businesses going, which I hope will be upgrading the bridges; overpasses; highways, etc. A strong U.S. dollar will lower oil prices and should make for a strong Wall Street.

McCain’s attempt to steal Obama's message of change--trying to sell himself as The Maverick--is a mere stratagem that is failing. As seems clear from this week, past week’s claims about suspending his campaign and canceling the first presidential debate, McCain shows his willingness to lie and deceive. McCain is simply ‘politics as usual’.

An hypothesis re: why McCain tried to nix this first debate: if this Friday’s first debate was canceled, there would be a greater likelihood that the VP debate would be the debate that is dropped, and not a potential tie-breaking debate between McCain and Obama.

If I was McCain, I would not want Palin debating Biden in front of 35 million viewers. Biden is knowledgeable, charismatic and adroit. Palin, not so much: she thinks that planet earth is about 6,000 years old and that Noah’s Ark (literally) had two of each of dinosaur species (yes, a 'young earth' creationist). I find it almost funny (in a sad way) that the best person the Republicans could find to 'take on the energy crisis' is someone who thinks oil was formed a few thousand years ago, and not over the span of the past many millions of years. Palin’s lack of basic science is positively scary. Biden will be shooting fish in a barrel.

To Jerry in Seattle...
Obama accepted an invitation from McCain to make a joint statement. Something this important had to be done together. They both knew it. It is obvious that even McCain aides were p----- off otherwise no one would have known McCain's timelines. His actions were not high-minded and during the meeting he had little of substance to offer - largely because he is an idiot (by his own admission)when it come to economic issues. Your lauding him speaks volumes to the inability of the American voter deal with the fact. McCain has tried to look Presidential, but only came off as sleazy conman. If you can't see that, I am at a loss to understand why. Read the article again and again and take you anti-Obama blinders off.

McCain will do anything to get elected because he knows this is his only chance to win an election. If he loses, he won't run again, whether his age or ruined reputation stop him. He figures once he wins he can do whatever the heck he wants, so it would be interesting to see what he would do if he won. I would suspect he would p--- off everyone equally and start a few new wars before Palin has to take over and America becomes a fully fledged crack-pot theocracy with her dimwitted and dangerous ideals. McCain used to seem like a moderate, level-headed guy, but now he seems like Gollum looking for his "precious".

Thanks to Mr.Champ for keeping us so well informed. Mr.Obama looks very much like a leader. No wonder Canadians are envious.

Let no one forget that Paulson was with Goldman Sachs and is probably worth around a billion, before the latest problems anyway. He is looking out for his erstwhile buddies first. Indeed he would not be where he is if not for supporting Bush all the way. Despite what all the pinheads on TV say, I believe the election will be Obama's. A well-known neo-con principle is to tie the hands of any Democratic administration by running up the debt! I mean what did Bush do? He came into office with a huge surplus, which he managed to turn into a huge debt. These people are incapable of shame, for they have no conscience!

If John McCain is allowed to continue his deceptive and hostile tactics as president, the United States will be in ruin.

Mr. Obama, if the American people don't think you are the man to lead their country - they all need their heads examined.

If you are not voted in by a landslide, please come to Canada and provide our nation with your intelligent and measured thinking, classy professionalism and strong international credibility.

Our country values the attributes a leader with your skills and abilities could bring to the table.

Pompous ass - high minded - arrogant - self glorifying - stupid - full of himself - reminds me more and more of BUSH every day.

So let me get this straight.. McCain meets with fellow Republicans, then they go to the White House with "We say "NO" to any package!"???

I bet all of these men will change their tune by this time next week... and all because Mr. McCain's "deft diplomacy" manages to convince them to accept the deal leaving many (easily dupped) voters to believe he is the hero... the saviour of the bailout.

Remember.. it's not HOW you get elected that matters...

Question is.. did those representatives REALLY MEAN "NO" before John saved the day?

wow, that was intense reading, this one gets my vote as Mr. Champ's best piece of the year, so far anyways....

Yeah, McCain gambled, and lost. At first it looked like a brilliant move that put Obama in a tight spot - where he had to either follow the lead or appear partisan. But Obama's point that "the president needs to be able to deal with more than one thing at once" seems to have resonated, and the fact that Ole Miss and the Debates Commission decided to proceed as normal undermined McCain's attempt to unilaterally suspend the debate. I think this could be the turning point in the campaign, particularly since Obama followed it up with a solid performance in the first debate, on a subject which was supposed to be McCain's forte.

Great piece Henry! The timeline is fascinating and apalling at the same time. It also adds a new dimension to the debate, which we are still watching here on the west coast.
Cheers!

Vow...how did the timeline get leaked to the press?

Some one needs to tell Mr McCain the only cell he is in anymore is the one he keeps putting himself in.
Thanks

McCain thought that this might be his 9/11. The crisis that would take him (Bush-like) from zero to hero overnight. Just as with his choice of Palin as his running mate (rhymes with playmate) he was in too much of a rush. Nobody, not even his best friends (as Henry pointed out) bought the "Sorry! No time for talk! I've got to jump on a plane and go straighten things out up there in Washington..." act that he was trying to peddle.

It is truly sad when someone who purports to want to serve the public attempts in such an overt way to extract personal political benefit from a crisis as serious as the one that is presently threatening the U.S. (and world) economy.

One of most powerful tools the President of the United States can wields is his ability to occupy the "bully pulpit". One can not ascend to the bully pulpit while stooping to low tricks. McCain went to Washington trying to appear "presidential" but he came off as as a scheming incompetent.

Very nicely put! Thanks Henry!

I am so glad you clarified the time line. I had been looking for some information on when things had happened.

Thank you!

A nice safe article sure to be well received up there. But McCain will be seen as at least trying to make a difference. Obama's "call me if you need me" stance does him no good. I think Barry's arrogance is hurting him with voters (few of which reside in Canada, sorry)

It just amazes me that anyone would vote for Senator McCain. I use to have respect for him, but now he just appears to be a slimy politician.

Great Piece of writing!