Obama, McCain Debating the Debate

According to the latest news sources, Obama and McCain will appear in Mississippi on Friday as planned. They will be appearing together - and debating.

But it almost didn't happen.

The upcoming Obama and McCain debate is postponed? While checking the link on MSN.com to see the latest sorry state of the stock market yesterday, my eyes were drawn to another headline linking to a story that seemed impossible to believe: McCain had suspended his campaign and the Obama and McCain debate might not take place. How could that possibly be?

Due to the apparent stall in congressional talks on the $700 billion bail-out of the U.S. financial industry, McCain made plans to suspend his campaign and fly to Washington to work with Congress to get the plan back on track. Although he had been talking with Obama throughout the day on Wednesday, this news seemed to catch Obama by surprise.

According to MSNBC.com, by Thursday afternoon, an agreed upon bail-out appeared to be in place and the anticipated Obama and McCain debate for Friday evening appeared to be back on as planned.

Unfortunately, the first debate centers on foreign policy. After the week we've had, don't you wish it would be on the economy?

Obama and McCain - A View from the Undecided Voter

While I am angry at Congress for "fiddling while Rome burns," during the past few days and using tactics to delay the legislation that will - hopefully - bring relief to the financial market, I am even more aghast that either candidate would have considered canceling a debate.

I most definitely trend to the conservative side of things on fiscal policy and I'm not the least bit happy that the government is going to bail out these financial institutions. But anyone who is paying the least bit of attention and has even one stock in the stock market, or a home that is worth substantially less than it was worth two years ago, or is sitting home due to the price of, or lack of, gas, has to see that the sky is falling here. And I'm not being "Henny-Penny" about it. The sky is essentially falling. And this legislation needed to be passed as soon as possible. But either presidential candidate should have been able to handle it while staying on the campaign trail and preparing for the upcoming debate.

It's time the candidates debated each other so we can figure out which path our country should take for the next four years.

The Obama and McCain Debate Must Take Place: Here's Why

I've never looked so forward to a presidential debate as I have the ones between Obama and McCain. I'm not sure anything has been more important to the future of our country as the decisions we, as citizens, will make based on these upcoming debates.

1. We Need to Know - Specifically - Where the Candidates Stand on the Issues

We are just a little over a month away from the most important presidential election that we may see in our lifetime. And, I'm still not sure where the candidates specifically stand on, well, anything. I've heard the usual campaign rhetoric from both of them - which I am definitely old enough and somewhat wise enough to dismiss.

I have been waiting on a debate to hear the specifics. Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain: It's time to cut out the generalities, meet each other face to face, and let America learn if you have a plan to pull this country back on track.

2. Will the Real President Stand Up - Presidential Candidates Obama and McCain NEED to Debate

From what I can tell, Obama is a charismatic speaker who may or may not have enough experience to lead this country. Obama has impressed other nations on an international tour but can he get good policy in place at home?

McCain has the experience to lead - but - we need a leader who can regain our status on the world stage, pull the United States back together, and exhibit some new ideas in the process. Will McCain follow through on his new ideas when the going gets tough? Will other nations give him a chance to prove he isn't four more years of George Bush?

Which candidate has the qualities we need for the next four years? I need to hear from Obama and McCain in the debate(s) to make my decision.

3. If Either Obama or McCain Expects to Lead This Nation, He'd Better Be Able to Multi-Task

For the past several years, we've been mired in international problems while the economy seemingly hummed along. Oops! Looks like someone wasn't paying attention. Mortgages without credit checks? "Pick-a-payment" loans?

Seriously folks, did anyone who's ever carried a credit card - and that's most of us, including bankers, banking regulators, Congress members, and the President - not have the sense to realize that this free-wheeling credit was the road to ruin?

While the current president's plate has been extremely full the last 8 years, and I wouldn't want to exchange places with him, the fact is that anyone who wants the job as President of the United States had better be prepared to handle more than one crisis at a time. Particularly for the next four years.

I need to feel comfortable that the next president can do that. I need to have some idea of how the next president plans to do that. I need to see Obama and McCain debate these foreign policy and economic questions.

4. Undecided Voters - Like Me - Deserve a Chance to Make Up Their Minds

I am one of the significant percentage of voters who are undecided. According to the latest AP-Yahoo News Poll, I've got plenty of company. At least 18% of voters claim to be undecided.

Let's get a grip here, candidates. This economic issue isn't a surprise attack. The economy and the financial markets have been in a death spiral for months now. If you don't have an opinion or a plan for this crisis - yet - it's almost too late to get one. I'm fully confident that both of you can provide your expertise from the campaign trail.

Now, let's debate.

Sources:

Associated Press, Candidates Debate Still On, Organizers Say, MSNBC.com
Patrick Healy, Pact on Debates Will Let McCain and Obama Spar, The New York Times, nytimes.com