How McCain Can Mount a Comeback

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Just forget it Maccain is out touch with the problems of common Americans!

Garang of FL @ Oct 02, 2008 15:44:27 PM

Opportunity for McCain? Really??

So how exactly is this Wall Street mess a tailor made Republican or McCain issue? Hasn't the GOP been for deregulation since Reagan and before. Every time they have gotten a chance during the Bush and Gingrich/Delay years they were removing as much government regulation of markets as possible. Simple regulations could have saved Wall Street from itself and this sub-prime mortgage mess. To think this is an opportunity for McCain who used to chair the Senate Commerce Committee is either taking a very partisan view or simply burying one's head in the sand. Dems are also guilty of failing the system, but there's is only a failure of just standing on the sidelines. They were not the ones driving the boat directly into the storm. Voters may not pay alot of attention but they at least remember that the Republicans are always for less taxes and yes less regulation.

This is the reason McCain has been in free fall in the polls ever since this mess started.

of @ Oct 02, 2008 14:49:25 PM

it is not only hitting wall street

I think your premise that it is only hitting wall street is completely wrong. The downturn in the housing market is what is causing this. This is affecting homeowners directly. What you thought your household was worth 500K is only now 250K, maybe you bought for 150k 20 years ago, but just imagine the psychological impact, basically the value you thought you hard, well you don't. The plans you were making, maybe getting ready to sell your home, and retire somewhere cheaper, now just a pipe dream. No real retirement savings, and now pondering living your last days working at Wal-Mart. I am so glad I did not buy at the peak....

Ray of CA @ Oct 02, 2008 05:11:18 AM

Republican Economic Philosophy is Bonk

The problem is, that isn't true, and everyone knows it. If McCain does that he is sure to lose (it won't be enough). He's pretty much sure to lose anyway, let's be real. Most statisticians give Obama about a 86% chance of winning now.

Emanuel Jacob of ID @ Oct 02, 2008 00:01:35 AM

One Slight Problem

How can McCain base a comeback on Fannie and Freddie when his campaign is being run by RICKIE! Oh! I forgot that really won't make any difference at all.

ronnie Bonds of SC @ Oct 01, 2008 10:16:46 AM

McCain

McCain needs to Take a page out of the Democratic play book. He has to stop playing by the Marquis of Queensbury rules. He should hammer the Democrats hard on the economic situation. Obama has no problem laying this in his lap. He should also revisit the Rev. Wright. Imagine if McCain had belonged to an America hating church. Obama would be shouting it from every rooftop. Obama belonged for twenty yrs and quit for political reasons. Its a huge wedge issue. USE IT!!!!!

Dave Mattea of IL @ Oct 01, 2008 07:16:40 AM

Have you no shame?

We aren't talking about a ball game, here. It's about the future of our country. In the last few days, like so many others, I've tried to make sense of this fiasco and believe that it really is a bipartisan failure. It's partly a product of corruption and "greed", yes, but also reflects a general inability of all players (government, the public, the Wall Streeters) to comprehend let alone field the complexities of today's world and economics.

I've read intelligent analyses by both camps: In todays's papers, for examples, I recommend George Will's column,"A Vote Against Rashness", as well Thomas Friedman's observations about the rescue plan, and an editorial by theoretical physicist Mark Buchanan on the dynamics of our economy vs.the oversimplified, old school "equilibrium" thinking to which free market proponents typically resort.

It's useless to lay blaim on one party or the other in this crisis. We are all partly to blaim, as stakeholders in a system that has allowed us to overextend ourselves wildly beyond our means.

For President, let's choose someone who can think and speak clearly, who believes in building consensus, and who doesn't try to jerk us around by throwing reckless curve balls. I don't agree with all of Obama's views. I'm aware that he, too, is guilty of questionable political tactics. But on balance, he has shown himself to be by far the more stable,fair-minded, and presidential of our two candidates.

However you may spin the situation, and however well she may prep for the upcoming debate, it is clear for all to see that Sarah Palin is appallingly ill-prepared to navigate the treacherous waters of today's political and economic environment.

She speaks to a very significant part of our population about meaningful issues -- such as abortion -- and these are views that should be heard and carefully weighed; but the office of Vice President is not the appropriate venue. Palin is both ignorant of current events and extreme in her evangelical Chrisianity.

Were she to become president, Palin would jeopardize our civil rights and national security. Moreover, she would very likely be little more than the puppet of the same Rovian crew who have done so much to damage our country and our international standing over the last 8 years.

Liz of MI @ Oct 01, 2008 06:32:48 AM

Bell's Toll

It's SO NICE to sense the palpable sense of despair amongst the true Republikano believers. Sure, friends, the crisis is an opportunity for McCain. Enjoy the Kool Aid.

Jake

Jake of CO @ Oct 01, 2008 04:52:50 AM

Not everything in the world is about McCain

This crisis is too big for any one person, or party, to fix. McCain's campaign "suspension" and quick rush back to D.C. was seen largely as grandstanding, even if well-meant. It takes more than a one-day intervention (from Friday morning to Saturday morning?) by one senator to have any effect. I hope McCain, Obama, the other senators and the Bush administration fix this for the sake of fixing it -- not fixing it in a way that helps one side win an election.

I'm shocked that you think Main Street USA or "the rest of America" STILL haven't figured out this is rocking their entire economy (the entire world economy, actually). They have to wake up. For every Wall Street job lost, an estimated three non-Wall Street jobs will be going with it. Oil prices may ease temporarily but that's "gazing-at-your-navel"-type thinking. There will be bigger problems with everything from employment to real estate.

Such is the unfortunate reality of "trickle down economics." Money from the rich doesn't trickle down to the poor. But the bad effects of crashes like this do.

Governments all over the world are working hard to solve this, through new regulations, cash injections into the markets and other moves -- largely (maybe somewhat resentfully) to protect themselves from a disaster that started in the U.S.

America has to pull itself together. Whether it's personally good for McCain or not good for McCain is not the main issue when your economy is falling apart -- and taking the rest of the world with it.

http://joycelau1.spaces.live.com/

Joyce @ Oct 01, 2008 02:38:56 AM

Ignorance in the Voting Booth

I am afraid America may lose this election due to ignorance.

For instance, consider the following comment titles for this article:

"McCain should just NOT DO ANYTHING...he's done enough damage"

And what "damage" is that? That many Republicans in the House (and Democrats) voted against the bailout bill despite his attempt to persuade them otherwise. Why didn't Barack Obama come to Washington to try to convince his buddies to vote for it despite the earmark for ACORN being stripped from the bill?

"McCain is not qualified to be a leader"

That's just plain stupid.

"McCain Paying For Republican Deregulation"

Although the Republicans are famous for small government and deregulation, the matter of Wall Street and Fanny Mae was an issue in which the DEMOCRATS (not the Republicans) pushed for -- and won -- deregulation... despite the desire and warnings of McCain (in 2006) for increased regulation. (Even President Clinton says the Republicans were on the correct side in this matter). It was Dem fat cats Chris Dodd and Barack Obama that were the #1 and #2 beneficiaries of money from Fanny Mae.

"This all happened under the watch of Republicans"

I suppose this is a matter of ignorance in that the person who wrote it realizes that Bush has been President for 8 years and thus he must be held responsible... but it was the Dems in Congress (and some Republicans) who were behind the deregulation (so they could get their big-time bucks -- Dodd and Obama, as stated, being #1 and #2 respectively)

"A 3rd Term of George Bush"

People who say this live in a simplistic fantasy world of only red and blue. A Republican is a Republican and a Democrat is a Democrat. But what they do NOT realize is that President Bush is fiscally liberal, yet McCain is fiscally conservative. Because Obama is a fiscal liberal, it is Barack Obama who would be a 3rd term of George Bush... who would continue the past 8 years of fiscal irresponsibility. It is Barack Obama who would be "more of the same"... not John McCain.

zyle of FL @ Oct 01, 2008 02:25:07 AM

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Capital Commerce

Capital Commerce

U.S. News business reporter Matthew Bandyk examines the issues, people, and debates that shape the nexus of political and economic life in the nation's capital.

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