Suddenly, It's Important

John McCain went to bed one day convinced that the country was on a solid financial foundation. I remember him telling us so. He then arose the next day to discover that the economy is now of dire importance as we face an urgent global economic crisis. So the next day, the "New Maverick" went back to Washington to immerse himself in the "old politics" of Capital Hill during the heated discussion over Bush's proposed financial buyout plan. And suddenly, the man who told us he was against "more government" found himself creating - federal economic regulation - and more of it.

Whatever happened to multi-tasking, John?

What happens when you're sitting in the White House and you've got the North Koreans rattling their sabers and the economy going in the proverbial toilet and immigration reform beckoning and ... and ... and ...

You can't suspend your campaign then.

We're at a time when Senator McCain needs sound bites. And more sound bites. The campaign is slowing down on it's own. The Republican thrill of bringing Governor Palin into the mix is fading. The Obama campaign is surging ahead. It's getting a little more awkward to sling more mud and attempt to drag the Democrats into it.

So he needs sound bites.

I can't remember the musician, but the line goes something like this ...

"Talkin' loud/ain't sayin' nothin'"

Isn't it intriguing that this has all occured a few days before the first Presidential debate. Hmmmm ... if you suspend your campaign and spin it as "doing something for the good of America", it sounds virtuous and patriotic. Oh, it's convenient that you're doing so at a time when you're about to be out-debated by your opponent (of that I have little doubt), exposing your limited skills in an open political discussion. You've let Governor Palin take the spotlight in recent weeks, which has in turn taken that same spotlight away from exposing some of the glaring omissions of the Republican campaign. A debate requires thinking on your feet, and I just don't see McCain winning that sparring contest.

But I could be wrong. And I could be a conspiracy theorist. Let's see what happens tonight. I, for one, will be anxiously awaiting it.