Taylor Marsh – TaylorMarsh.com – News, Opinion and Weblog on Progressive Politics

BY TAYLOR MARSH

Last night on CNN, Ed Rollins made a stunning admission. When I saw it I wondered if somehow he’d forgotten he was on national tv.

Shorter McCain, who has jumped in to lead the House Republicans: Screw the
country. Save ourselves. Save the party. Charming. But that’s what it boils
down to. McCain showing up in Washington yesterday gave them voice.

The
New York Times:

Still, as a matter of political appearances, the day’s events succeeded most of all in raising questions about precisely why Mr. McCain had called for postponing the first debate and returned to Washington to focus on the bailout plan, and what his own views were about what should be done. Those political appearances are a key consideration for Mr. McCain less than six weeks from Election Day and at a time when some polls suggest he is losing ground against Mr. Obama, especially on handling the economy. The substance of the financial crisis aside, it was already proving a tough stretch for Mr. McCain. Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, his running mate, struggled through questions about her foreign policy credentials during an interview with CBS News. Mr. McCain was lampooned on television by David Letterman. … Still, by nightfall, the day provided the younger and less experienced Mr. Obama an opportunity to, in effect, shift roles with Mr. McCain. For a moment, at least, it was Mr. Obama presenting himself as the old hand at consensus building, and as the real face of bipartisan politics. …

The tactical strategery of the McCain is jerking movement forward, with no overall strategy, except to move the game pieces one step at a time, however they can. One Hail Mary at a time. So far they’ve thrown two, but expect more.
That’s basically because the political terrain for Republicans this year is
so awful.

But the focus now is the debate. John McCain has to show up at the debate tonight. I’ll be liveblogging it regardless. Giving Obama
the entire American audience by himself would be a disastrously stupid gamble.
McCain’s advisers are craven political cynics, but they’re not stupid, though they may end up looking that way if House Republicans stay dug in, McCain can’t get a resolution now that he’s stirred things up, and the financial markets crater completely.