The GOP will stall the bailout until after Friday to help McCain.

[chieftain]

They cannot let Palin appear next to Biden under any circumstances. They have created this charade to cancel the VP debate and to create the impression that McCain has taken a strong hand in saving the country. What utter bullshit. They will put country last yet again to try and retain power.The only way to achieve these goals is to be sure there is no agreement before Friday. They know that in the end the Democrats will be responsible and save the legislation, so they can play the crisis for political gain. I have the utmost confidence in Barack and his team but the next 3 days could well determine the outcome of the election.

[RoadRage]

1. Obama's already said that the debate tomorrow goes on.. with or WITHOUT McCain..

Obama will just show up, sit in the chair and take 90 minutes worth of questions from the moderators on National T.V. in front of 70 million viewers.

Checkmate McCain.. you either show up and look like a fool who went back on your word (IE LIED), or you don't show up and give Obama 90 minutes of publicity to look fantasticly polished in front of the American People while you sit at your desk in Washington and watch it on T.V. Live.

And, next Thursday during the VP debate, he's going to have a tough time cancelling that one for Palin, because Biden will show up and do the same damn thing.

Idiots.. the republicans are just idiots.

[onenote]

3. it probably won't happen if McCain doesn't show up

Why? Because under the FCC's equal opportunities rules, a "debate" is exempt only if more than one candidate appears. So if Obama shows up and McCain doesn't and its televisied, it wouldn't be exempt from the equal opportunities rules and McCain could demand a comparable amount of free time which he could use for any purpose (i.e, he wouldn't have to appear in the same format as Obama). So the stations are going to be reluctant to carry a "debate" that isn't really a "debate," Obama is going to be reluctant to hand over that much free time to McCain, and ultimately, it will be cancelled.

That's my prediction. Of course, I still think McCain is going to show up because something will get resolved before Friday night.

The repubs might try to hold it up, but that just makes McCain, who supposedly is rushing in to get the thing done, look ineffectual.

[WeDidIt]

4. Nope, it'll go on if he doesn't show

HE was afforded a spot and accepted the invite.

The debate goes on as scheduled, even if it ends up in a nationally televised question and answer period for Obama.

[onenote]

6. it still won't be exempt from equal opportunities.

It may go on, but I doubt it will, since it means the networks that carry it will have to give McCain an equal amount of time.

http://www.broadcastlawblog.com/archives/political-broadcasting-if-john-mccain-doesnt-show-up-would-equal-opportunites-issues-prevent-the-debate-from-going-on.html

[WeDidIt]

9. They already gave him equal time

If he fails to show, he has declined that equal time.

[onenote]

11. go ahead and believe that if you want. But its not the law.

30 years of practicing before the FCC gives me a pretty good idea of what the answer is on this one.
Its not the invite that makes the event eligible, its the actual appearance.

[1corona4u]

5. I totally agree.

[Egnever]

2. I think thats what they are trying to do

I am not entirely convinced they can pull it off though.

[CakeGrrl]

7. The Obama camp response should be

"They can pick any other day and time between now and the election, but the VP debate stands as it has no bearing on the presidential debates." Simple.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. The Dems will stall until the weekend, forcing the debate to happen

with or without McLame.

[Obamarulz11]

10. Ole Miss students protesting on campus, holding signs saying...

McCain is scared to debate!!
McCain is scared to debate!!

[MirrorAshes]

12. yup, looks like Boehner just confirmed this is the strategy.

slimey bastards, turning this into political oppurtunism. shameful.

[chieftain]

13. The one thing you can count on in politics is that when you

think that the GOP cannot sink lower, they do.

[RichGirl]

14. I don't think the republicans in congress....

...are as united as they used to be. I've heard on the news that the newer, younger republicans aren't going along in rubber stamp fashion. I've read that their is a lot of dissention and infighting in the party. I don't think they are all going to rally around McCain while he uses this crises for political gain. They have their own jobs to worry about and as he sinks, they'll want to distance themselves from him. In some cases those running for office aren't using the (R) after their names.