"Sure. Technically. I Don't Know."

This post's title is an actual John McCain quote--he was asked if the U.S. was in a recession--from last Sunday's "60 Minutes."

From Joe Klein in Time:

I don't blame John McCain for not rounding up enough Republican votes to get this bailout bill through the House of Representatives--he's not a member of the House, he's never held a leadership position and therefore doesn't know how to whip votes and finally--well, uh--there is one tried and true method for getting members of Congress to vote aye and McCain opposes it: a sweetener, like say, funding for a bridge in their districts. That is one reason why we have earmarks. McCain is opposed to giving away baubles for the greater good.

I do blame McCain for his puerile histrionics and for dragging this issue--which should have been above partisanship--into presidential politics. Let's make no mistake about it: his various gimmicks had absolutely nothing to do with the substance of the issue. He doesn't know all that much about the substance of the issue. The gimmicks were a failed attempt to make it seem as if he had powers, and knowledge, he didn't have. Clearly, he was in a more difficult position than Obama--the populist conservative wing of House Republicans was unwilling to take responsibility for the fruits of the deregulation that they promoted--and that might have required a more aggressive effort to move votes on his part, but the flailing about only confused Republicans (was he for, was he against?) and made matters worse.  

In case you missed it, "DoubleTalk" was back out on the campaign trail earlier today, trumpeting last week's campaign "suspension" (except for every surrogate on his payroll, slamming Obama 24/7), suggesting that he alone had twisted enough arms to pass the bailout bill, and acting like the 11th Hour Hero that he wasn't.

He spoke too soon, of course; the bill didn't pass, as you know, and even members of his own party were less than generous in their praise regarding his "Hey! Look at me!" tactics.

They certainly didn't follow their leader.

"DoubleTalk's" rush to the economic rescue went down in flames much like the four Navy aircraft he lost in accidents prior to the one he legitimately lost in combat. 

It might be time for him to get out of this whole "hero" business.