Wednesday morning, Sen. Barack Obama called Sen. John McCain to suggest that they issue a joint statement on the financial crisis, in an effort to de-politicize a volatile issue. (That’s volatile as in, one stupid phrase could trigger a nationwide bank run.)
     So being the ‘maverick” that he says he is, McCain gets on the air and says he’s suspending his campaign and heading directly to Washington until something is agreed to on Capital Hill. And, by the way, let’s postpone Friday’s debate until the agreement happens, too. 
     What did this mean? Was it another blown tire (a la the announcement of Sarah Palin) to divert attention away from Obama as he steadily speeds away in the national polls? Was McCain simply not prepared for the debates and saw that buffers like the ones put around Palin (no press conferences, no reporters allowed to follow her when she met with some world leaders) can work? Was it meant to show who’s the better leader on the block, a media-driven kick of sand into Obama’s face? Or is he truly driven by a need to do what is best for the nation.
     Sorry folks, but my inner snark is about to be unleashed. This supposed gallantry stinks of GOP spin. Stinks like a pile of diapers. After all, McCain’s campaign manager, Rick Davis, runs a lobbying firm that received at least $345,000 from Freddie Mac since 2006. (Oh yeah, Davis told Newsweek that he’s been on leave from the company since joining the campaign, but if it’s still his business, how can he not profit?)
     McCain canceled his appearance on David Letterman tonight, calling personally to say he couldn’t make it because he had to leave for Washington. Keith Olbermann said tonight that when Letterman’s show was taped, McCain was still in Manhattan — taping a segment for Katie Couric. Letterman was fuming. Olbermann knows this for a fact. He replaced McCain on the show. And there’s more. McCain had the time to meet with the wife of the British ambassador. And tomorrow he’ll attend a former President Clinton’s global initiative summit in Manhattan to discuss the financial crisis. So much for the rush to make it to D.C….

     McCAIN FLAT OUT LIED TO DAVID LETTERMAN!

     The timing of all this is certainly suspect. Rep. Barney Frank said on David Gregory’s show that McCain’s “airdrop in” to help the proceedings won’t mean much. Progress was made today and an agreement is expected before Monday.
     When it comes down to it, I don’t think Mr. Maverick was ready for a debate discussion on (or a commitment to) a Congressional decision on how to handle the crisis. But Keith Olbermann is far more cynical. (Have I said “I heart you” yet today, Keith?). He thinks that by postponing Friday’s debate, it will cause a crunch time before the election that would require dropping one of the debates scheduled. You guessed it — the vice presdential debate! Nice. How convenient…
     Make that a steaming pile of diapers baking in the Galveston sun…