Any article with the line “it was a remarkably bad day for Republicans” in the first paragraph is going to pique my interest:
Even for a party whose president suffers dismal approval ratings, whose legislative wing lost control of Congress and whose presidential nominee trails in the polls, it was a remarkably bad day for Republicans.
The drama that unfolded yesterday wasn’t as much about the underlying policy, but on the underlying politics — internal Republican politics. Neither Bush or McCain have any leadership abilities:
By midnight, it was hard to tell who had suffered a worse evening, Bush or McCain. McCain, eager to shore up his image as a leader who rises above partisanship, was undercut by a fierce political squabble within his own party’s ranks.
The consequences could be worse for Bush, and for millions of Americans if the impasse sends financial markets tumbling, as some officials fear. Closed-door negotiations were to resume Friday, but it was unclear whether House Republicans would attend.
Republicans and Democrats alike seemed unsure which way McCain was leaning. His campaign’s statement late Thursday shed little light.
“At this moment, the plan that has been put forth by the administration does not enjoy the confidence of the American people,” it said. It was unclear whether McCain would attend Friday night’s scheduled debate against Democratic nominee Barack Obama in Oxford, Miss.
So, get this straight: McCain made a big announcement that he was suspending his campaign (which he didn’t do) and planning to bag the first debate because of the economic crisis. He swooped into D.C., caused a stir — but no one knows what his position is. That’s some kind of crazy. He hasn’t solved the problem. It’s no kind of leadership.
