McCain suspending his campaign

[Johnny Coli]

Why should he accept the invitation of a panic stricken old man who is losing an election?

Lost in the commotion of McCain pulling a fire alarm to get out of an exam is that he was also calling for a suspension of all campaigning. Not only did he not want to debate, he was basically calling "uncle" to try and stop the beat down he was getting for the past ten days. Pathetic.

 

Looks like he wants to postpone the debate until next Thurday...the day the VP debate was supposed to be held, which will get re-scheduled, too.

 

Now it's all starting to make sense.

 

[Lurker]

Sorry, the allegation that NYT and YOU made was that he received the payments. Did he or did he not?

Are you truly aruging about semantics rather than the net result? He received the benefit of the funds by his ownership stake in the firm.

[LongLiveRalph]

The Messiah's reply to going to DC- "Call me if you need me".

 

They could actually do MUCH more for America by having a debate, scratching the foreign policy idea and discussing economics, including their perceived reasons for the financial turmoil and their ideas for the next four, eight, 15 years. Discuss what Americans can do to save money, eat cheaper, save gas, keep their house...Discuss what can be done to prevent fuel shortages in the midwest and south when the refineries are down during hurricane season, and discuss ideas for capital projects that will contribute to the infrastructure of the nation while keeping people employed.

 

But no, let's suspend a presidential campaign that HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE LAST 24 MONTHS because the guy who's had a horrible week sees his opportunity to call timeout.

 

It's absolutely hilarious that McCain thinks anyone is dumb enough to buy his angle on this one. Oh wait, Wacka is.

[Lurker]

Sorry, the allegation that NYT and YOU made was that he received the payments.

 

"Mr. Davis has received no salary or compensation ... no profit or partner distributions ... neither has Mr. Davis received any equity in the firm based on profits derived since his financial separation" from the firm in 2006, the campaign said in a statement posted on its Web site.

 

In that statement, the McCain campaign mischaracterized the Times report, alleging that its story said Davis was paid by Freddie Mac. In fact, the newspaper said Freddie Mac paid Davis's firm.

 

A person familiar with the contract says the $15,000 a month in payments to Davis' firm started around the end of 2005 and continued until the past month or so. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

 

Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae paid Davis $30,000 a month after recruiting him to run a newly created group, the Homeownership Alliance. The five years of payments followed McCain's failed bid for the presidency in 2000.

[GG]

 

Yeah, no way a guy whose name is first on the letterhead of a lobbying firm getting 15k a month for years from Freddie Mac got anying out of that arrangement. Was Davis the one cashing the checks? Doubtful. But he, sorry his firm , was kept on the Freddie Mac payroll because of his ties to McCain. That's right there in the NYT article and in the Newsweek article.

 

Must be nice to live in a world where anyone in the private sector has to take a vow of poverty as soon as they jump to the public sector. Please let me know when you find that world. Better yet, please let me know the world where the left hasn't abused that privilege more than the rights, since you're so indignant about it.

 

There are rules in place for people to separate their prior private sector dealings from their new public service jobs. If you're looking for a smoking gun, show proof that Fan/Fred influenced Davis and in turn had influenced McCain's position on the GSEs.

 

So, Freddie Mac is giving his firm 15k a month because he's McCain's campaign manager, and no one else at his firm was handling the account. The question shouldn't be "was Davis pocketing the retainer personally," it should be what the !@#$ Freddie Mac hoped to get out of the deal for $2 million dollars and unfettered access to McCain.

 

Keep arguing about who signed the checks, though.

 

If it's as neat as you describe it, that's the worst $2 million Fan/Fred ever spent, given McCain's positions on the two firms. Of course, given where they ended up, it's not surprising they're not good in putting money to good use.

[Lurker]

There are rules in place for people to separate their prior private sector dealings from their new public service jobs. If you're looking for a smoking gun, show proof that Fan/Fred influenced Davis and in turn had influenced McCain's position on the GSEs.

Whoa Nelly! A few posts ago, you were questioningthe assertion that his firm even got the payments. Have the goal posts shifted again??

[GG]

Whoa Nelly! A few posts ago, you were questioning the assertion that his firm even got the payments. Have the goal posts shifted again??

 

Reading comprehension is not a strong suit, I take it?

 

 

Yes, let's decide on the truth, when all reports say that the firm received the payments, while Davis left the firm and hasn't gotten zero $$ from the firm in two years.

[Lurker]

Reading comprehension is not a strong suit, I take it?

As long as there is an ownership stake, there is absolutely NO difference between getting paid directly or indirectly. Why is that so hard to comprehend?

[DC Tom]

Shouldn't one of the requirements of being president be the ability to multitask problems?

 

Nope. The main requirement of being president is being able to look like you're in control of something you have no control over.

 

McCain has a slight advangate in this regard, with his experience as a combat pilot. But overall, both candidates have this quality in spades.

[/dev/null]

both candidates have this quality in spades.

 

 

[GG]

As long as there is an ownership stake, there is absolutely NO difference between getting paid directly or indirectly. Why is that so hard to comprehend?

 

Because there are systems in place to handle these types of conflicts. Until you find the utopia where no one in the private sector can join the public sector without becoming a pauper, then you have to live by existing laws. Just because he's a principal in a firm that still has employees and accounts, doesn't mean there's undue influence. Hell, using your logic, no one in DC should be paid in US dollars, because their policies impact the dollar exchange rate, and that's obviously a bad thing.

 

Now, tell me again where I questioned whether his firm got paid or not. Or you just do not like answering direct questions?

[DC Tom]

 

 

<_<

 

You know, as I wrote that I was thinking "Is there anything about this that could be considered racist with respect to either candidate? No..." It doesn't even occur to me to think of Obama as "a black man"...he's just a guy running for President to me.

[blzrul]

It is interesting that Obama reached out first to McCain to discuss the issue and try to agree on a joint statement (in areas where they agreed). McCain's reaction is the theatrical "I wills suspend my campaign" yadda yadda.

 

Obama's reaction: Unless you're struggling with "My Pet Goat" as Prseident you may have to deal with a crisis while something else is going on.

 

By the way, can anyone tell me what we ended up with LAST TIME Congress had a big emergency and rushed through legislation to address it?

 

Yup. The Patriot Act.

 

I don't know who's going to debate Obama Friday night but so far it's going ahead. I guess he'll get a prime time town hall style Q&A all to himself.

[Lurker]

Because there are systems in place to handle these types of conflicts. Until you find the utopia where no one in the private sector can join the public sector without becoming a pauper, then you have to live by existing laws. Just because he's a principal in a firm that still has employees and accounts, doesn't mean there's undue influence. Hell, using your logic, no one in DC should be paid in US dollars, because their policies impact the dollar exchange rate, and that's obviously a bad thing.

 

Now, tell me again where I questioned whether his firm got paid or not. Or you just do not like answering direct questions?

I reread your post and admit you said his firm got paid. Mea culpa on post #66.

 

That said, for some reason when McCain says that no one on his campaign staff has any connection to Fannie/Freddie, I tend to take that as an honest and truthful statement. Only a lawyer or politician (or both) would parse that language to the point where the distiction of getting paid in the right pocket (cash) or the left (increased net worth via the enhanced value of his firm) is open to debate.

 

Who knows about influence pedling (although I wonder what Freddie thought they were getting for their money up to last month)? When McCain-- repeatedly--says something, only days later to have it proven incorrect, then his credibility/judgement/competence becomes an issue.

[Booster4324]

I reread your post and admit you said his firm got paid. Mea culpa on post #66.

 

That said, for some reason when McCain says that no one on his campaign staff has any connection to Fannie/Freddie, I tend to take that as an honest and truthful statement. Only a lawyer or politician (or both) would parse that language to the point where the distiction of getting paid in the right pocket (cash) or the left (increased net worth via the enhanced value of his firm) is open to debate.

 

Who knows about influence pedling (although I wonder what Freddie thought they were getting for their money up to last month)? When McCain-- repeatedly--says something, only days later to have it proven incorrect, then his credibility/judgement/competence becomes an issue.

 

Bearing in mind I am still sorta Dem, clarify this, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman."

[molson_golden2002]

If someone has posted this point already, I appologize, but, what in the world will Super Mac hope to accomplish by jumping into the Executive/Legislative negotiations? I can't imagine any good coming out of his interference. The process is under way, the agreement is being hammered out and it does not need presidential politics being injected into this. The last thing it needs is that acually. And yes I know politics is involved, but this could gum up the works entirely if McCain and Obama jump in there and start an argument over nothing.

 

For the sake of the country let the process go forward as it is. What a hum bug McCain has raised

[Lurker]

Bearing in mind I am still sorta Dem, clarify this, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman."

Scumbags of a feather (cigars as dildos, Keating 5 memories...they're all the same).

 

What I wish for in my lifetime is a President I don't have to be ashamed of/pissed off about. The thought of a McCain presidency certainly elicits both emotions right now, and an Obama one's not far behind. What a clusterfuk.....

[molson_golden2002]

 

You know, as I wrote that I was thinking "Is there anything about this that could be considered racist with respect to either candidate? No..." It doesn't even occur to me to think of Obama as "a black man"...he's just a guy running for President to me.

 

 

I'm pleasently surprised that a large number of Americans are. No matter what happens it seems the country has really turned a corner in that regard. It's really a great thing

[Taro T]

It is interesting that Obama reached out first to McCain to discuss the issue and try to agree on a joint statement (in areas where they agreed). McCain's reaction is the theatrical "I wills suspend my campaign" yadda yadda.

 

Obama's reaction: Unless you're struggling with "My Pet Goat" as Prseident you may have to deal with a crisis while something else is going on.

 

By the way, can anyone tell me what we ended up with LAST TIME Congress had a big emergency and rushed through legislation to address it?

 

Yup. The Patriot Act.

 

I don't know who's going to debate Obama Friday night but so far it's going ahead. I guess he'll get a prime time town hall style Q&A all to himself.

Wrong again Deb.

 

Patriot Act - 2001

Sarbanes Oxley - 2002.

[GG]

I reread your post and admit you said his firm got paid. Mea culpa on post #66.

 

That said, for some reason when McCain says that no one on his campaign staff has any connection to Fannie/Freddie, I tend to take that as an honest and truthful statement. Only a lawyer or politician (or both) would parse that language to the point where the distiction of getting paid in the right pocket (cash) or the left (increased net worth via the enhanced value of his firm) is open to debate.

 

Who knows about influence pedling (although I wonder what Freddie thought they were getting for their money up to last month)? When McCain-- repeatedly--says something, only days later to have it proven incorrect, then his credibility/judgement/competence becomes an issue.

 

The statement is factually correct. If you're making the connection that the equity ownership interest presents a conflict, then by all means let's open up every single campaign staffer's brokerage statement for review for undue influence for every stock they own.