Chris Webber

John McCain may have learned the hard way, you don't call a 'timeout' when you don't have one to call.

His decision to 'suspend' his presdiential campaign may be looked back upon as one of the single greatest blunders in the long and storied history of presidential politics in America. Years later, McCain's move may be lumped together with 'Swiftboaters,' "I invented the internet," 'What's a supermarket scanner?', and this:




Yes, President Bush may have immediately saved McCain from complete embarrassment by calling both McCain and Obama to Washington to help pass the 'Bail Out' bill. But, there is little McCain can do now to prove that he isn't scared to debate Obama on Friday. Americans want to hear from their candidates. They need to hear from their candidates. There is nothing more infuriating to independents (those who will really decide this election) than not getting a chance to make an informed and honest decision when chosing who to vote for. McCain has, in escence, told those voters that the democratic process doesn't matter. "You don't get to hear from my running mate or me, but trust us when we say, 'we're bringing change to Washington and we're putting America first.'" Sorry John, but that's not how it works.

McCain was immediately rebutted by the Commission on Presidential Debates, one of the most stringently non-partisan organizations. They released the following harcame forward with this hard-handed press release yesterday afternoon:

The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) is moving forward with its plan for the first presidential debate at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss. this Friday, September 26. The plans for this forum have been underway for more than a year and a half. The CPD's mission is to provide a forum in which the American public has an opportunity to hear the leading candidates for the president of the United States debate the critical issues facing the nation. We believe the public will be well served by having all of the debates go forward as scheduled.

America will hear from all four of the candidates for the highest two offices, whether McCain likes it or not. That's what we deserve, and that's what we'll get.

There are no 'timeouts' in this campaign. When things get tough for McCain in the White House, is he just going to 'suspend' his presidency? Maybe let Nancy Pelosi take over for a while? Campaigns have gone forward in the face of far worse calamaties that what America is experiencing right now. This one will go forward as well. It's too bad for McCain that burning a TO he didn't have may have decided this campaign early in the fourth quarter.