Where In The World Was John McCain?

Here’s where he wasn’t: engaged in bail-out negotiations.  Instead, while lawmakers were finalizing a deal, the McCains were dining with the Liebermans at Cafe Mozu in DC’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

Instead of the bipartisan approach McCain claimed he’d offer, he spoke almost exclusively with Republicans:

President Bush
Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH)
Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH)
House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO)

And, instead of spending his time on Capital Hill, which is why he made a big show of galloping back to Washington in the first place, he spent his time almost entirely in his Arlington apartment.

Asked why Mr. McCain did not go to Capitol Hill after coming back to Washington to help with negotiations, [McCain advisor Mark] Salter replied that “he can effectively do what he needs to do by phone.”

McCainiacs waxed ecstatically about McCain’s erratic, last-minute attempt to throw the first presidential debate into upheaval, and how this would show great leadership.  In the end, it was a bust, and the campaign that was never really suspended after all, is still looking for that game-changer.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.